The Pelumi Olajengbesi Campaign Organisation (POCO) has called on Hon. Wole Oke to provide an account of donations reportedly raised for a proposed lecture theatre at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), following allegations that the project has remained incomplete for five years.
The organisation also urged the lawmaker to consider returning the honorary doctorate degree conferred on him by the university if he failed to fulfil the commitment he made during the institution’s 11th convocation in January 2021.
In a statement issued on Friday, POCO’s spokesperson, Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, said Oke had promised to build a befitting lecture theatre for the university as a gesture of appreciation after receiving the honorary degree.
According to the organisation, Oke subsequently shared a 3D design of the proposed building on July 10, 2021, while publicly acknowledging friends and associates who contributed towards the project.
POCO expressed concern that, five years after the announcement, the project had allegedly not progressed beyond its foundation, which it described as abandoned and overgrown with weeds.
The organisation said the situation had raised questions about the status of the proposed facility and the donations reportedly received to support its construction.
It therefore called on Oke to make a public statement on the project’s progress, disclose the amount raised from donors and explain how the funds had been utilised.
POCO also urged the lawmaker to address the concerns surrounding the unfulfilled commitment, noting that public confidence in political officeholders was strengthened by transparency and accountability.
The organisation said the matter was particularly important given the educational purpose of the proposed project and its potential benefit to students and the university community.
It added that residents of Ijesa North deserved representation that prioritised tangible development and the fulfilment of commitments made to institutions and communities.
The statement did not include a response from Oke or an explanation from the university regarding the project’s current status.
As of the time of filing this report, the allegations and demands made by POCO had not been independently verified.
