Lagos reacts to report of student allegedly sent home over campaign poster

The Lagos State Government says it has launched an investigation following reports from parents that their 10-year-old daughter was sent out of Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe, over an election campaign poster.

The mother claimed in a viral broadcast message that her daughter, Marvelous Barinaadaa, was sent for using a poster of Labor Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to wrap a notebook.

However, in a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Ganiu Lawal, on Thursday, the government noted that “all agencies will not instruct principals, personnel or teachers to act in such a manner.”

He noted that the Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, has given assurances that the matter will be dealt with “within the strict scope of regulations because the reason for sending the student is unacceptable – if true.”

“Students found selling election posters”

The Epe Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Togun Olusegun, confirmed that the organization is involved in the issue. He said the organization has spoken to the school authorities and will visit the school on Friday for further findings.

According to Mr. Olusegun, “the student was not suspended but asked to leave the school when he was caught selling N50 election posters in the school premises.”

Mr. Olusegun explained that the principal made the decision to avoid a crisis, stating that political activities are not allowed in the school.

In a message that went viral, the student’s mother accused the school of sending her daughter home without informing her parents. He cited a short letter signed by the principal, which reportedly read: “The student was allowed to go home for Peter Obi’s campaign against the wishes of Lagosians.”

“This girl is only ten years old, she doesn’t know anything about politics, but she was kicked out of school without telling her parents because she said we support Peter Obi and the Labor Party,” her mother said.

“Please, is the principal’s behavior good? See what the Principal wrote in the letter? And after we said we are Nigerians,” he said.

Lagos to discipline defaulters

Meanwhile, in a statement from the government, the commissioner signaled that other principals in Odonguyan who were caught on camera promoting their political choices to students have been subject to appropriate disciplinary measures.

Mrs Adefisayo reiterated that the Lagos State Ministry of Education “supports and runs a public school system free from politics and political innuendo”.

“A thorough investigation into the matter will be conducted and anyone found guilty will be subject to disciplinary measures as stipulated in the civil service rules,” he said.