Former Deputy Registrar of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, Dr Lai Oparinde has called out the College for refusal to apologize to him years after he was cleared of wrong allegations of fraud brought against his personality.
This was revealed in his book, titled ” The Truth Lies” which was presented to the public on Saturday in Ila-Orangun.
The Former Deputy Registrar also launched foundation on Saturday. He revealed the truth of the incident that happened between 2015 and 2018.
Dr Oparinde, who now lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said that the Governing council accused him and three others of fraud of N7.6million when they were sent to Abuja in 2013.
“The book is a compendium of facts and figures, between 2015 and 2018 in Osun State College of Education, Ila-Oragun, that led to so many distortion of facts between the governing council then and members of staff.
“It is because of this distortion, I specially decided to come out with a book like this to set the records straight, so that people can know what exactly transpired during those years that led to the decline in the enrollment at the College.
“In 2013, we were sent to Abuja to discuss on admission regularisation, when we were going, we were not given any money, only our transport fare. So in 2015, they started to spread rumours, that we were sent to Abuja with N7.6 million and we didn’t deliver the money. Whereas we weren’t sent with a dime to Abuja”, he narrated.
“At the end of the day, truth prevailed and they knew we weren’t sent with money to Abuja and they refused to come out openly to accept their own mistakes and apologise to the whole public. Because of thier refusal to apologize, people believed their lies and it is because of this, I’m setting the record straight. If anyone has contrary observations to what I have written there, let the person come out and say his own facts as well”, he stated.
“One of the persons who was accused with me, Mr Adekale died as a result of the shock of the incident. This incident caused me to be suspended for two years without salary, that is why this book is written to let everyone know the truth of the matter”.
In his closing remarks, he advised the government to put always put round peg in round hole, adding that “it was because we had a wrong peg in that hole that there was problem in the College. The man that was managing the College had no idea what Education was all about. So he just came around and destroyed everything we have built for over 20 years”, he concluded.
Speaking on the newly launched foundation, Oparinde said “The foundation is to assist secondary schools indigent students to pay their final year examination fees. So we selected some indigent students to give them tokens for them to write the next WAEC.
Kunle Oparinde, the first son of Lai Oparinde stated that the event was an avenue for them to exonerate their family name, which a few people in Ila orangun have tried to put to the dust.
“I’m happy this event is happening today, it is an avenue for us to exonerate our family name, which a few people in Ila Orangun have tried to shame”, he said.
The beneficiaries of the Foundation’s first incentives appreciated the the foundation for their support in helping them achieve thier dreams, promising to make the founder proud.
Present at the book presentation were friends of the author, family and colleagues in the academy.