. LASG investigates incident
By Gabriel Dike
A school in Lagos State has sent a ten-year-old girl for wrapping her exercise book with the poster of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP).
The management of the private school, Odomola Junior Secondary School, Odomola, Epe, Lagos, sent the female pupil in JSS 2B home for allegedly using Peter Obi poster to wrap her notebook.
The Principal of the school said in the exit that she campaigned for Peter Obi against the wish of Lagosians.
Narrating her daughter’s experience, the father said she was sent home on Tuesday, March 14 by the principal.
He said the daughter was sent home without their being informed because she used a Peter Obi poster to wrap her notebook.
He added: “She didn’t know anything about politics but she was sent away from school without informing the parents because they say we supported Peter Obi and the Labour Party.
Please is this act by the school principal good. See what the school principal wrote on the that letter. And after we will say we are one Nigeria.”
In a swift reaction, the Lagos State Ministry of Education says it will investigate the complaint of a parent that his child was sent out of school for using the poster of one of the contestants in the last election to wrap his books.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, Mr. Ganiu Lawal, said the ministry will recalled the principal, who will be asked to explain the incident.
According to statement, the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education and its agencies will never instruct any school principal, personnel or teacher to act in such a manner.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, reassured the public that the matter will be dealt with within the scope of our strict regulations as the reason for sending home the student is unacceptable – if true.
Mrs Adefisayo also hinted that another school principal at Odonguyan, who was caught on camera, as shared on social media, promoting her political choice to the students has been subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures.
The Ministry promotes and runs a public school system devoid of politics and political insinuations. A thorough investigation of the matter will be carried out and anyone found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary measures as laid down in the civil service rules.