| School for crisis•
• Firefight over returned institution in Lagos continues
By JULIANA FRANCIS
Monday, November 8, 2004
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Clearance
Adeniyi
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The atmosphere at the State High School, Oko-Oba, Lagos,
remains tense as the ownership crisis in the school entered
a new phase on November, 2.
Even as Clearance Adeniyi, the Proprietor/Director of Administration
of the school declared he would fight to the last to make
sure he gets back into the administrative mainstream and do
something to save the school from its final collapse, Tunde
Akinyefa, nephew of Johnson Aderemi Akinyefa, co-owner of
the school and Adeniyi’s opponent said: “ It is
not possible! We already have a principal. He has taken over
the administrative aspect of the school. BabaAdeniyi is fighting
for ownership of a school that does not belong to him! The
school was founded by my late father and his brother Johnson
Aderemi Akinyefa. The financier was one Alhaji. The school
started in the Palmgrove area. My father noticed the school
was growing and decided to look for a place with space. He
and my uncle came to buy this land. Baba is saying that since
my father is dead, he would not recognize anybody again. He
comes everytime to cause trouble. The case is in court, let
him wait for the outcome.”
Adeniyi denied telling the late Akinyefa’s relatives
that they couldn’t be part owners of the school. The
agreement had always been for him to be the school administrator
and Akinyefa as the financial controller.
Daily Sun gathered that things were running smoothly in the
school before the state government decided to take over in
the 70s. Crestfallen, the owners all left for their various
tents. Mrs. Funmilayo Adeniyi, wife of the Director of Administration,
said: “ There was talk of compensation then, but the
government didn’t do anything. For 25 years, they were
in possession of the school. By the time the news came out
that schools were being returned to their owners, Johnson
Aderemi, who incidentally is also my relation, came to meet
my husband. My husband initially didn’t want to go to
claim the school. Aderemi asked me to beg him, that it was
their sweat. They started going to the Lagos State government,
until finally they retrieved the school. They both signed
series of documents. The main cause of this problem is money!
The government promised to pay some money. They’ve paid
just once. The Akinyefas saw money and now don’t wish
to see my husband. My husband has not been paid by the school
for two years now.
“ In the agreement, he and my husband were supposed
to be the signatory to the school account, but he has now
opened another account.”
The woman, who said her daughter was also sacked from the
school, insisted all the Akinyefas wanted was to cut her husband
off his due.
Adeniyi says he was the one responsible for procuring the
land on which the school stands, from a relative, and even
now, the money has not been fully paid.
The Akinyefas may have all the documents in their files, but
if judgement was to be passed based on the students’
reaction to Adeniyi, they would lose. It became clear as Daily
Sun went round, that Adeniyi wielded a lot of influence over
the students. They hailed him and declared: “ It is
only Baba we’ve always known as the owner of the school.”
Tunde explained that the students say so because, “
he would always go to them to declare himself as the owner
of the school.”
As Tunde was speaking with Daily Sun, students hung around,
listening with avid interest. When he declared that Adeniyi
told the students not to pay their school fees, they all shouted,
“ it’s not true!”
Tunde and a man, identified as Steven Olasunkami, intercepted
Daily Sun for daring to come into the school without the principal’s
permission, the pupils trooped out at the raised voices. When
Adeniyi who had come with bodyguards made attempts to drive
his car out of the premises, the gate was locked. The number
of the pupils increased. They started agitating for the gate
to be opened for Adeniyi and his wife to leave. A riot seemed
imminent if only Adeniyi would give the war cry. Adeniyi decided
to leave through the back gate. Olasunkami ran after him,
including some of the students, who were already smelling
blood.
For more than three hours, the Adeniyis were held hostage
in the school, while the Akinyefas awaited the arrival of
men from Area ‘G’ command.
Adeniyi explained that he was sad at the deteriorating condition
of the school. He said: “I stayed away for close to
two years because I had a ghastly motor accident. I was in
the hospital. My wife on several occasions was attacked at
this school by hired hoodlums. They destroyed her vehicle.
All the books in the bookshop, which she owned were looted.
My office was burgled. Check the Intro-tech classroom, the
Art room, all the expensive equipment have been looted. I
weep for this school. It used to be one of the best in Lagos
State. Look at what it has become. We had 120 staff before,
now we have less than ten. The number of the students is decreasing
everyday. Is this a school? Look at the students, playing
outside when they are supposed to be having classes. They
no longer even have co-curricular activities.”
The other party claimed the school was underrun because, “Lagos
State government is owing us N7 million. The school is barely
managing. Salaries are raised from student school fees, which
Baba has asked the students not to pay.”
Daily Sun learnt the fight for ownership has been going on
for long. The case has been taken to court and the injunction
says Adeniyi should be allowed to continue with his administrative
job as long as he does not incite the students or cause trouble.
The recent crisis started when Adeniyi came with two classes
result sheets, which had been taken away by two sacked teachers.
Adeniyi said he had to seek out the teachers and begged them
before he was given the results. The students ought to have
collected the results since July. Tunde, however, said: “How
he got the results is surprising to me. Those teachers were
sacked because of embezzlement. We were thinking of setting
another exams for the two classes before he arrived with the
results.”
The students claimed that since Adeniyi left, things have
fallen apart in the school, but Tunde insisted it was all
lies. According to him, the pupils were that day unruly because
Adeniyi was around. He also was angry because Adeniyi once
told a media house, that the students were, “raping
one another.”
When Daily Sun pointed out to him the manner in which the
female and male students openly “hold” each other
and behave towards their teachers, Tunde once again placed
the blame on Adeniyi’s appearance. Peace and settlement
appears illusive as the factions refused to concede or compromise.
As the bickering and squabble continue, the students’
education suffers.
The matter ended at the Area G Command that day, and Adeniyi
was full of thanks to the commandant, whom he says “has
been handing the issue with the fear of God.”
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