Former Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Andy Egwuyenga, Deji Adeyanju, Omoyele Sowore and other activists have taken the provost of Delta State school of nursing Agbor, Mrs Rita Egonne, to the cleaners over her query to a nursing student, Osato Edobor, for posting rhe viral video of the twisted song on her social media handles.
In the query letter which is spreading like wild fire on social media, the provost had queried the student, asking her to respond in triplicate within 24 hours why she should not face disciplinary action for participating in the song and posting the video on her social media handles.
In response in a comment, Professor Egwuyenga said it is irresponsible of the provost to have queried the student for posting the video on her social media pages. For him, it was unnecessary of her to do that.
He said: “Querying a student on the issue betrays lack of experience. As is now very clear, the query doesn’t serve any useful purpose. Worldwide, students when together will always act like students.
“As the official State Government statement rightly explains the song should not be interpreted as insulting the First Lady. We don’t train students to act like robots.”
Omoyele Sowore, on the hand, said he will be providing both physical and legal backing to the student nurse to ensure the authorities of the school do not perpetuate what they plan to do.
“We will be providing backing to this lady with all our physical and legal might to ensure the authorities at Delta State College of Nursing Sciences do not perpetrate this egregious act of injustice, as an injury to one is an injury to all,” Sowore wrote on Facebook.
Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja based human rights lawyer said this continuous action of authorities attempting to suppress and gag descent voices in whatever form has to stop.
Adeyenju wrote: “This madness has to stop and this is a clear warning to the Delta State College of Nursing to get ready for all of us if they do not withdraw this insult.”
Israel Joe, another rights activist in Delta, stated that the nurses have right to freedom of expression to a song raised by the Master of Ceremony.
In a long post, Israel Joe wrote thus: “I wish to draw the attention of the Delta State Government and Ministry of health, including the students body to the anticipated suppression, deliberately orchestrated by the Provost Delta State College of Nursing Sciences Agbor, Mrs. Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne.
“The student nurses have right to freedom of expression on a song raised by the MC attempting to foist the wife of the president Sen Oluremi Tinubu on them as their mother, which they collaboratively rejected.
“How would a reasonable management punish a single student for the expression of their right which she shared on social media. We shall peacefully occupy the College.
“Intimidation of the said student would not be allowed as no one has the right to force a mother on anyone because it is not anywhere stated in our constitution that the first lady of Nigeria, is our mother.”
Other activists, lawyers and Nigerians have voiced their opinion on the matter, calling for caution on the part of the school authorities and Delta State government to avoid escalating issues that could lead to avoidable crisis.
