Cross River Governor Ben Ayade has suspended the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Mrs. Anne Odey for banning devotion in schools in the state.
Odey had written, last week, to all private and public schools at primary and secondary levels across the state, suspending morning and afternoon devotions.
The directive was said to have emanated from the Commissioner for Police in view of security challenges facing the nation.
But the Security Adviser to Ayade, Jude Ngaji, told reporters in Calabar yesterday that the Governor was not aware of such directive.
He added the Permanent Secretary didn’t pass such the directive through the governor.
Ngaji said Ayade has directed immediate and indefinite suspension of the Permanent Secretary.
The ban on devotions, he added, has also been lifted immediately.
According to the Security Adviser: “It is true that police got intelligence information that Boko Haram were planning to bomb schools during morning devotion and therefore directed authorities in Ministry of Education to act fast.
“But the Permanent Secretary did not bother to revert to the governor or call for stakeholders’ meeting to that effect.
”So, the governor feels pained that she got such sensitive information without seeking for his advice and rather went ahead to issue a directive suspending morning devotions in private and public schools.
”In the light of the above, the governor has directed that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anne Odey, be suspended forthwith while the ban has been lifted immediately as there is no instruction to that effect from the governor’s office.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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If the BH report is true, the woman actually did the right thing by suspending the devotion, but should have communicated it to the governor. Besides, is the Police not supposed to have communicated such news to the governor too. Rather than the governor doing power show by hurriedly lifting the ban on the devotion periods, he should first dialogue with the police to ensure that the lives of those children are safe before anything. May God help us
ReplyDeleteSuspending the woman is not the right step on the side of the Governor. The Woman took a right decision. God forbid if BH strike the moment Police communicated the woman on that issue, the woman would have been blamed as well. Proactive measure was taking by the woman and that doesn't mean she wouldn't communicate such to the Governor.
ReplyDeleteThe take is dat xtianity is a religion without leadership in Nigeria. Anybody and anyone can do as he so damn please with xtianity and challenge God to show himself. What else can you call this unabaiting attack on the religion by every dick and harry without weighing the implications. Recall that 1000s of lives have been lost and still been lost on daily basis through boko haram use of female suicide bombers wearing the hijab, in even mislems countries around us, the hijab was banned in order to reduce or mitigate such tactics and thus save lives. But in Nigeria What happened?...Politics of religious supremacy...even in d face of extreme security risks it was all noise, d police couldn't make security recommendations neither the army...there was ominous silence rather a Moslem women group quickly arose to challenge any attempt on banning of hijab as an afront on Islam and should not even be attempted...so the lives being lost are irrelevant and the security agencies have no intelligence nor any measure to respond to d deaths and the same has the guts to direct the immediate stoppage of morning devotions in schools across a whole state or calabar. This is cos they know that the same xtians will champion the stoppage becos they are not faithfuls. Over 75% of Christians are fake and churchgoers...that's y all forms of evil thrive in the churches. But the truth remains that true Christians will never allude to such FALSE Alarm nor allow the triumph of Islamic agression on Christianity through any guise because the only true way of averting such calamity permanently is through divine intervention....through prayers not by stopping of prayers. This assault and harassment of Christians should stop ...enough is enough becos God is watching and at the fullness of its time his anger may descend on this land called Nigeria. He gives us time to repent and also those that spoil his name by answering xtians but attacking and destroying Christianity to seek his face for forgiveness. There is no threat of boko Haram bombing and if so y calabar of all places and y public schools ONLY. The police commissioner and his BOSS - BUHARI, who gave the instruction to him after his visit to Calabar, should be held responsible should any violence, bombing or threat arise in calabar. They may actually wickedly plant a bomb now to challenge the Governor or to prove a point as a way to drive their point home...usually intimidation. But no evil shall go unpunished and no secret lasts forever as long as more than one person was involved. The truth shall come out. Even if they now decide to bomb us, they cannot break our spirit and they can't stop us from serving our God becos we KNOW that He never fails to protect His own. Ever reliable God is the God We serve.
DeleteWell spoken Too Good. Just to draw your attention to a point you may not have considered to mean anything.
DeleteThe use of the letter 'x' to replace Christ in either 'Christians' or 'Christianity' is an attempt by the haters of Christ to remove Him or make Him irrelevant in the affairs of men. It started with Christmas. But the truth is that there is no Christ'ian', Christ'ianity', or Christ'mas' without Christ. He is the centre of all these and should not be treated less. I hope you understand this and stand for him accordingly.
This is what happens when y put square pegs in round holes. The Police I feel should have written their recommendations to the ministry copying the Governors office. And there ahould have been further discussion on the matter by Governor, Police and the Ministry as to best line if action to take. But Madam Abachress saw it differently
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't the best decision to take, people hear that an attack is coming and the best thing to do was to stop the avenue they use, as a people, to seek the help of God? That, to me, is unwise. "A little leaven leavens a lump"- to start banning devotion based on that may lead to permanently banning prayers in school. People must be careful never to exclude God in their affairs whether deliberately or ignorantly. We must never be a perverse people!
ReplyDeleteThe Governor acted in the best manner. The perm sec is under the governor and the governor is the chief security officer of the state, he be the first to be informed before any directive sets effected. Meanwhile is the woman anti prayer fanatic? Is she acting in concert with the police commissioner who obviously must be a follower of the other religion ?
ReplyDeleteI kn 4 sure my Governor can neve banned devotion in schools, bc there r many options or steps to curb d threat. As a listening and God fearing Governor, he ll lift d suspension on d permanent secretary even though her act of thinking to save d children lives was wrongly taken.
ReplyDelete