Fayose writes President Buhari, decries delay in renaming university after Adebayo

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has urged the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of renaming a university located in Oye-Ekiti after the late Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.

Fayose in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari wondered why the change of name promised by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had not been effected nine months after Adebayo’s funeral in his Iyin-Ekiti hometown.

The governor expressed dismay that nothing has been done on the matter.

Adebayo, the former Military Governor of old Western Region, died on March 9 last year and was buried on May 20.

Osinbajo, then Acting President,  had at a funeral service held at the All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti, announced the decision to rename Federal University, Oye (FUOYE) as Adeyinka Adebayo University.

Osinbajo said the decision was taken “in recognition of the exemplary leadership qualities of the late former military administrator and frontline statesman.”

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor had in a letter dated January 29, 2018, with reference number EK/GOV/28/93, urged the President to effect the change “without further delay.”

The letter reads: “As Your Excellency is aware, the late Gen. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (Military Governor of defunct Western State and one time Head of the Nigerian Army died last year).

“Your Excellency was represented at his (Adebayo) burial on May 20, 2017 by the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) at Iyin-Ekiti, his home town.

“The Acting President at the occasion announced the decision of the Federal Government to rename the Federal University, Oye Ekiti as Adeyinka Adebayo University in recognition of the exemplary leadership of the late hero and frontline statesman.

“However, more than seven months after this pronouncement, nothing has been done.

“Your Excellency, this letter therefore is to serve as reminder of this significant decision of your government so as to enable appropriate directive(s) and implementation.

“On behalf of the People and Government of Ekiti State, I thank Your Excellency for the thoughtfulness, please.”