The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has kicked against the
recent adoption of the Oodua Anthem in public schools by the Ondo State
government.
NEF faulted Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for taking such
decision, adding such introduction was “a very serious assault on the integrity
of Nigeria.”
Governor Akeredolu’s administration had in a circular dated
May 6 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the State Teaching Service
Commission, Tolu Adeyemi, made it mandatory for students in public schools to
recite the anthem in all functions in public secondary schools across the
state.
The Governor had also warned that the anthem, which is now
being used by Oduduwa Republic agitators was approved for the public schools in
state and not for any secession agenda.
However, in the statement signed by the NEF Director of
Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the group condemned the move,
insisting that it would further alienate sections of the Nigerian society.
“If this is true, it represents a very serious assault on
the integrity of the country by people who have sworn to uphold and protect
it,” the group said.
“There’s only one anthem our children should sing and
recognize. If there are other symbols with cultural significance they should be
made to identify with, it should not be elevated to the level of a national
anthem, or even supersede it.
“If the federal government is on its toes protecting the
boundaries of our unity and national integrity, it would challenge this in
court.”
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