We'll not sit and watch Ondo adopt Oduduwa anthem, it's not going to work - Northern elders Says

Following Governor Akeredolu’s administration mandatory call in a circular dated May 6 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the State Teaching Service Commission, Tolu Adeyemi, for students in public schools to recite the anthem in all functions in public secondary schools across Ondo state, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has kicked against the recent adoption.

NEF faulted Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for taking such decision, adding such introduction was “a very serious assault on the integrity of Nigeria.”

Though, the Governor had said 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.”