Oyo State Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke has reacted to an allegation that she denied the Federation of Ibarapa Students Union (FIBSA) access to benefits from the Aluta Bus distributed by Governor Seyi Makinde to all student union bodies in the state.
Hon. Wasilat in a phone conversation with one of our correspondents described the allegation as mischievous and an attempt to soil her personality.
According to her, she has never interfered in any student union activities in the state since she was appointed commissioner, so the narrative being pushed out is not true.
She said “I have read with dismay, a publication that I denied FederationnofnIbarapa Students Union (FIBSA) of their right to access the bus distributed to Oyo State students by the youth-loving Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
“To set the record straight, I have never involved myself in the activities of FIBSA, and for no reason will I deny them access to the bus if everything was ok.
“Before the day the bus was distributed, I was aware that the union is factional and they couldn’t resolve amongst themselves.
“At a point, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students, Victor Olojede called my attention to it and since it is a union body from my zone, I told him to sort them out so that I won’t be accused of being one-sided. I had allowed him to handle most of the student-related affairs. But I wouldn’t know which side he stands for him not to be able to settle the faction and bring them together as one.
“When I got the notice that the governor wanted to gift buses to student union bodies in the state, I called SSA Student, Victor that since we are not sure if the factional crisis has been resolved, If it is just one faction that showed up, we are cool but if not, we should step down the bus in order not to create a scene in the presence of the Governor. This, the SSA agreed to it.
“Unfortunately, both factions were heavily present on that day and we are left with no option but to step the bus down before people start to say it is the people from the Speaker and Commissioner’s constituency that came to disrupt the event. Then, how sure are we that the bus will not be damaged before they get to their destination?
“Efforts have been made to call the parties involved for a peace meeting but several official assignments didn’t allow the stakeholders to meet up.
“If I were to be biased, one of the factions involved is from my town, I would have said the bus be given to them.”
