Introduction Of Oduduwa Anthem In Ondo: Northern Elders Kick

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.”