Lagos Govt. probes principal over election poster controversy

Lagos State Ministry of Education has said it is investigating the complaint of a parent, Mr. Barinaadaa, who alleged that his daughter, Marvellous Barinaada, was sent out of Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe, for using the poster of one of the contestants in the last election to wrap his books.

A statement signed by the Ministry of Education said that it had invited the principal to explain what actually transpired.

A viral Facebook post by the father, which had a screenshot of the exit slip read, “This is to inform you all, that my Daughter, Marvelous Barinaadaa, was Exit from Odomola Secondary School today, 14th March 2023, by the school Principal, just because my daughter uses Peter Obi poster paper to wrap her school notebooks, and this girl is just 10-years old, she doesn’t know anything about politics, but she was sent away from school without informing the parent because they said we supported Peter Obi and Labour Party. Please, Is this act by the school principal good? See what the school principal wrote in that letter. And after we will say we are one Nigerian.”

However, the Lagos State Government’s statement read, “Lagos State Ministry of Education is investigating 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. The incident was reported to have happened at Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe.

“The ministry has recalled the principal, who will be asked to explain the incident.

“The Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education, and all 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 would be dealt with within the scope of our strict regulations.