Claim: Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has increased tuition at the state College of Health Science and Technology, Akure and plans to increase tuitions at two other institutions immediately he wins the November 16 governorship election.
Full Text
Electorate in Ondo State will on November 16, 2024 elect a new governor. The number one political seat in the state is keenly contested by the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The two key contenders were deputies to late Rotimi Akeredolu, who was the state governor between 2017 and 2023. Agboola Ajayi was Akeredolu’s deputy in his first term in office (2017-2021). He was dropped for Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akeredolu’s second term but Akeredolu died before completing the term, paving way for Aiyedatiwa’s elevation as the Executive Governor.
The spread of suspicious information has become pervasive during election cycle and the Ondo State governorship election is not immune against misinformation.
Recall we debunked a misleading information that an APC campaign was disrupted by angry youth in the state in June.
Recently, a suspicious Whatsapp message screenshot is being circulated that the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa is set to increase tuition fees payable on higher institutions in the state immediately he wins the November 16 election. The message also claimed Aiyedatiwa increased tuition for the state College of Health, Science and Technology, Akure.
The message reads: “SCHOOL FEES HIKE…. Gov Ayedatiwa Sets to increase Tertiary Institution FEEs in Ondo State immediately after Nov 16 Election, succeeded in Hiking school Fees of Ondo state Health, Technology Akure from 40,000 To 150,000.
“Target: Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba from 150k-450k
Unimed from 250k-800k.”
Due to the virality of the message and the suspicion surrounding it, we decided to factcheck.
Verification
We contacted the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Otunba Wale Akinlosotu via a phone call. Akinlosotu denied the claim and stressed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had no plan to increase tuitions payable in tertiary institutions in Ondo State.
He admonished the public to disregard the information, labelling it a propaganda from the opposition.
He said, “Mr. Governor has not planned any increase in tuition fees or any adjustment of fees for any tertiary education at all. It’s just the propaganda from the opposition.
“And that will not happen. We cannot increase fees at this time when we are going through a lot in Nigeria. It will be very insensitive for Mr. Governor to do that.
“So, the opposition is just looking for something to scare the people.”
Message Analysis
We conducted a Google reverse image search on the viral image but could not locate it on any social media platform.
We also conducted a keyword search on Google but found no credible report about any planned fee hike by Governor Aiyedatiwa.
A critical analysis of the viral message indicates that it might be fabricated. AI tools like Zeoob can be used to fabricate fake Whatsapp chat.
The image looks blury and the information contains several grammatical errors.
Has Aiyedatiwa increased College of Health, Science, and Technology tuition?
Since Aiyedatiwa assumed office in December 2023 after the demise of Rotimi Akeredolu, there has been no report of tuition increment at the state College of Health, Science andTechnology, Akure.
The Special Assistant to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Digital Media, Yomi Oyekan, had on September 19,2024 posted on his X account that the college fee has not been increased.
His post reads, “No Increase in Tuition Fees for Ondo State College of Health, Science, and Technology, Akure”
“This is to clarify that there has been “no approved increase” in tuition fees for students of the Ondo State College of Health, Science, and Technology, Akure, by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Parents and students should disregard any contrary information. Students are advised to pay the old fees and proceed with their registration without any issues.”
A similar rebutal was also shared by Allen Sowore, SSA to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Strategic Communication.
Conclusion
There is no evidence that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State plans to increase tuition fees in tertiary institutions in the state. The claim that the governor has increased tuition at the state College of Health, Science and Technology, Akure is false.
