The administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has again found itself embroiled in another major misappropriation scandal. The mismanagement of Ondo State’s scholarship fund, which is now dubbed #NAOSSGate, comes after the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Hon. Kelvin Solomon Olaoluwa, leaked ‘official’ receipts showing how large sums of money intended for scholarships were diverted into the pockets of political cronies.
The leaked documents were meant to serve as a weapon in an escalating feud between Olaoluwa and the President of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), Hammed Oyelade. The feud allegedly centers on disputes over the sharing formula for the syphoned scholarship funds, with Oyelade, a major beneficiary of the misallocation, accused of hoarding and distributing the funds unfairly among his allies.
Hon. Kelvin Solomon Olaoluwa, the SSA to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, appears to have shared the receipts out of spite. This follows reports of fisticuffs between Olaoluwa and Oyelade somewhere in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday. The former accuses Oyelade of hijacking the process and unfairly distributing scholarship funds to his personal allies.
Allegedly, a significant portion of the funds has found its way into the hands of Oyelade’s inner circle, fueling the fight over the funds’ sharing formula. In retaliation of the reported slap he received from the NAOSS President, Olaoluwa leaked the receipts of how Oyelade received funds meant for the payment of bursaries.
The shocking manner they withdrew the funds has further exposed the arbitrary breach of trust and lack of transparency within the Aiyedatiwa administration. The leak not only revealed the deep levels of corruption within the administration but has also shown the personal rivalries that threaten to derail any genuine efforts to support education in the State. While both Olaoluwa and Oyelade remain embroiled in their personal conflict, the real victims in this saga are the students, who are left with broken promises and a tarnished scholarship system.
Peoplesmind
