Gov Akeredolu of Ondo makes the reciting of Oduduwa Anthem compulsory in all Ondo state public schools.
Recently news broke out about how a governor in the southwest zone mandated all the schools in the state to commence reciting of Oodua anthem in the schools and in public functions. This move has been generating reactions and comments from Nigerians.
The state government had through the permanent secretary of the State Teaching Service Commission, Told Adeyemi on 6th of May, 2021, issued a statement which made it mandatory for students in the state public schools to recite the anthem in all school functions.
The governor has however warned that the anthem which is now being used by Oduduwa Republic agitators was approved for usage by the public schools in the state and not for any secession agenda.
Nevertheless,the move has been condemned by Northern Elders Forum. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had in a statement signed by its NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed condemned the the action of the governor, reiterating that the move will further alienate sections of the Nigerian society.
The statement reads, “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.
The statement went further to state, “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.”