A fierce public disagreement erupted on Thursday between a former Governor of Ogun State and current senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, and Governor Dapo Abiodun, over the state’s handling of tertiary education and the controversial takeover of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) by the federal government. The clash, centered on accusations of neglect and underfunding of state-owned institutions, has sparked intense debate across Ogun State and beyond.
In an open letter that quickly went viral, Daniel criticized Abiodun’s administration for its failure to properly fund and maintain TASUED, a university that Daniel himself had helped establish during his tenure as governor in 2005. While acknowledging that the federal government’s decision to take over TASUED could be seen as a positive move, Daniel expressed dissatisfaction, pointing to it as an indictment of the state government’s inability to manage its own institutions, despite the state’s large budget.
The controversy revolves around the federal government’s recent approval to take control of TASUED, a decision that Daniel views as a reflection of the state’s neglect. Daniel, who was governor from 2003 to 2011, explained that the establishment of the university was part of his efforts to address the overcrowding at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), which had limited capacity and could only accommodate 3,500 students. According to Daniel, the creation of TASUED was aimed at providing more educational opportunities for Ogun State students, as well as creating jobs for residents of the state.
In his letter, Daniel commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the takeover, but he also expressed concern over what he described as a “bitter-sweet” experience. He argued that the move indicated the state government’s failure to maintain TASUED despite the substantial budget available to the state. “Our people will ask, what is the percentage of our budget that is being allocated to the development of education from such a humongous budget appropriation?” he questioned.
Daniel highlighted that the establishment of TASUED was not just about increasing admission opportunities but also about providing employment to Ogun State residents. He expressed frustration that, under the current administration, the state government had failed to prioritize the university’s funding and growth. “I wish our people would not come to such a hurried conclusion about government ineptitude as the reasons for this necessary acquisition when the state government has abdicated its own responsibilities to this institution,” he said.
Daniel also warned that the state’s students may no longer benefit from the quotas that TASUED had provided, as the federal government would now be able to appoint leadership for the university, potentially diminishing the number of Ogun State students who could be admitted. He further urged the state government to redirect the funds saved from TASUED’s transfer to other state-owned institutions, which, according to him, had suffered from neglect, including the four ICT polytechnics and other technical institutions across the state.
“Better still, in the event that the state government is unable or unwilling to fund these institutions, we might as well pray for the same ‘good fortune’ that befell TASUED to visit them, to save them from the clutches of shame of abandonment,” Daniel added, implying that Ogun’s other institutions were similarly at risk of being ignored or underfunded.
In response to Daniel’s criticism, Governor Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the former governor’s remarks as “needless criticism” and accused him of politicizing the issue. Akinmade suggested that Daniel’s open letter was an attempt to undermine the federal government’s decision to take over TASUED, painting it as a personal attack rather than a genuine concern for the future of education in Ogun State.
Akinmade went on to challenge Daniel’s claims of neglect, presenting evidence of increased investment in Ogun’s educational sector under Abiodun’s leadership. “One cannot help but question the true intent behind the senator’s much-publicized ‘open letter’ to Governor Abiodun—a document filled with mischaracterizations and insinuations,” he said. “The accusations of neglect collapse under the weight of verifiable evidence pointing to increased investment, infrastructural development, and renewed vitality across Ogun’s educational landscape.”
Akinmade argued that the federal takeover of TASUED was a positive development for the institution, which would now benefit from access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), increased budgetary support, and stronger academic manpower. He also pointed out that Governor Abiodun had been transparent about the move, clarifying that it was part of a strategy for equitable distribution of federal institutions across the country, not a sign of state failure.
“The governor has clarified time and again that the decision was taken in the interest of equitable distribution of federal institutions across the state, not due to any failure of funding or neglect,” Akinmade said. He further added that, contrary to Daniel’s claims, the university had received significant improvements in infrastructure and funding during Abiodun’s administration.
Akinmade also dismissed the notion that the state had abandoned its educational institutions. He cited numerous projects aimed at enhancing the state’s education sector, including the renovation of existing facilities and the construction of new ones. The governor’s aide pointed out that the state’s budget for education had been increasing, with a focus on expanding access to quality education for the people of Ogun State.
The exchange between Daniel and Abiodun has triggered a broader conversation about the state of education in Ogun and other states in Nigeria. While some see the federal takeover of TASUED as a much-needed step to improve the university’s prospects, others, like Daniel, view it as a failure on the part of the state government to adequately invest in its own institutions.
Ogun State, which has a large population of students seeking tertiary education, faces significant pressure to provide enough spaces in its higher education institutions. The state has a history of being home to some of Nigeria’s leading universities, but with increasing demands for more admissions, the management of these institutions has become a delicate issue.
As this debate unfolds, many are calling for a more focused approach to funding and managing education at both the state and federal levels. The hope is that by addressing issues such as underfunding, mismanagement, and the equitable distribution of educational resources, Nigeria can create a more robust system that meets the needs of all students, including those in Ogun State.
