The number one Muslim at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) community , Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Administration, of the University, has said his principal and Vice- Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, does not run an administration that muzzles the Muslim community on the campus. Prof. Opoola who described Prof. Fasina as a highly religiously tolerant leader and brother, said those who fed the Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC) ‘s leader, Prof. Ishaq Akintola lies about the personality and leadership style of the VC didn’t mean well and only did so for selfish and mischievous purposes.
In a statement he made available to newsmen on Friday, Prof. Opoola who appreciated Prof. Akintola’s concerns for the welfare of Muslims in FUOYE clarified that the MURIC leader was misinformed by those who alleged that Prof. Fasina muzzles Muslim community in FUOYE.
His words: “While appreciating and commending MURIC’s concern for the welfare of Muslims in FUOYE, it’s eminently important to inform the public of Prof. A.S Fasina’s positive stand on the promotion of Islam in FUOYE .
“There have been cordial relationship between Muslim and christian communities in both Oye and lkole campuses of our University through a non-discriminatory attitude of Prof. A.S Fasina who has done so much in support of Islam on campus compared to his predecessors.
“Prof. Fasina has enormously supported the cause of Islam on campus in his zeal at ensuring an holistic welfare and well being of all Muslims on the campus. He supported us greatly in realizing the dream of a mosque for the Muslims. He saw us through the building of our mosque from the scratch to its completion and often times funded the project with his personal money till we completed the mosque. He has also provided us a new site for a bigger mosque in Oye campus. The VC also attends the Convocation Jumait service physically as a way of fully identifying with us.
“Of many instances of Prof. Fasina’s support for the Muslim community is also in the issue of dressing code that accommodates female students such as wearing of hijab as embedded in the students’ hand book during his tenure. In the administration of Prof. Fasina, many Muslims have been appointed in different sensitive positions and these include the DVC, admin, Prof. Opoola who is my humble self, the Registrar in the person of Alhaji Mufutau lbrahim, the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof. Oyedokun Wasiu-Alli, the Director of FUOYE medical Centre, Dr. Olawale Musbau, the Director of the Directorate of Affiliations, Prof. Olaide Hammed, Prof. Abiodun A. Ajiboye as Director of Newly established FUOYE’s Directorate of Trado medical Products, Dr. Modinat, Female Gender Desk Officer of the University, Dr. (Mrs) Ashiyanbi Serifat, Head of Department, History and International Studies, Dr Waheed Olaide Oladimeji, Head Linguistics Dept, Prof. Taofiq Olaide Nasir, Head of Department, Religious Studies and Mr. Salahudeen Teslim, a young and fresh graduate of the University was not only appointed recently as Graduate Assistant of his Department but also as Special Adviser (SA) on students Affairs to the VC.
“The recently conducted Congregation was scheduled to hold from 10:am to 12:00pm on a Friday and that shows it was not meant to undermine the period of Jumait service. However, Muslim members went for Jumait service and returned without hinderance.
As regrade the inuagural lecture, ordinarily inaugural lectures in FUOYE commences from 2pm to 5pm on all week days. The last Friday inaugural lecture in question, was delayed to commerce until 3pm by management which means it began after the Jumait service.
“ lOn the strength on the above clarifications, there no is animosity between the Muslim community and the VC and other parties in FUOYE where we all relate with one and other in peace and harmony and like brothers and sisters on the campus irrespective of our faith divides. The picture above was taken at OAU Ile Ife mosque while attending an Islamic event of one of our Professors of Practice.,” he explained