Marvelous Barinada, a 10-year-old JSS 2 student of Odomola Junior Secondary School in Epe, Lagos, was sent home by the school’s Principal for using the campaign poster of the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the Feb 25 election, Peter Obi, to wrap one or two of her notebooks.
The notice signed by the principal read thus: “Miss Barinada Marvelous of JSS 2R is hereby permitted to go home for campaigning for Peter Obi against the wish of Lagosians.”
Who would have thought that all Lagosians have one political wish?
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Marvelous’ mother shared the following on her social media pages: “This is to inform you all that my daughter, Marvelous Barinada, was exited from Odomola Secondary School today 14th March 2023, by the Principal, just because my daughter used Peter Obi’s poster paper to wrap her notebook for school.
“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 parents because they say we support Peter Obi and the Labour Party.”
The Lagos State Government has waded in, promising an investigation into the incident.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the recall of the school’s Principal for an explanation of what really transpired.
“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,” Adefisayo vowed.
The commissioner reassured the public that “the matter will be dealt with within the scope of our strict regulations as the reason for sending home the student is unacceptable – if true.
“A thorough investigation of the matter will be carried out and anyone found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary measures as laid down in the civil service rules.”
We find it worrisome that an innocent, starry-eyed student has been dragged into the murky waters of Nigerian politics by the authorities of a school.
All Marvelous wanted to do was wrap her books the way we all did back in secondary school, in order to prolong the lifespan of these notebooks or textbooks.
Given that her parents are apparently supporters of Obi and have loads of Obi’s campaign posters in their home, Marvelous must have grabbed as many of these campaign posters as possible to school; and may also have shared them to her friends and classmates innocently.
To input a political motive into what a 10-year-old does with pieces of paper, is diabolical.
We find it objectionable that Odomola Junior Secondary School, in what is an apparent PR stunt and an attempt at damage control, is now circulating videos in which Marvelous was made to look like she brought Peter Obi’s campaign posters to the school to solicit for votes. How is a 10-year-old expected to know how to campaign for anyone?
Besides, why did the school wait for Marvelous’ mum to go public with the story before sharing these videos?
Marvelous’ mum shared the story on WhatsApp after the presidential election. Who campaigns after an election? Certainly not a 10-year-old!!
In the video, Marvelous also looks like she was coerced or compelled to agree that she brought Peter Obi’s campaign posters to school to campaign, while promising that she wouldn’t engage in the act anymore. No one votes in Nigeria until they have legally attained the age of 18. Why would a 10-year-old be campaigning among her peers who haven’t attained voting age yet? Does this even make sense?
From the video the school circulated, it is apparent that Marvelous shared these posters to her friends so that they can also use them to wrap their books. The school’s spin of this sad development would have been hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic.
Children are naturally impressionable and impressionistic. Marvelous may like Peter Obi because her parents do. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We have seen children take after their parents. We have seen kids of musicians grow into musicians themselves. We have seen children of footballers become superstar footballers. We grow up to imitate our parents and to talk like them. And there’s nothing biologically or naturally wrong with these.
Sending Marvelous home for political reasons is also a violation of the Child’s Right Act as domesticated; which guarantees the right of the child to free, compulsory and universal primary education, and special protection. The school had put Marvelous in harm’s way by singling her out and expelling her unjustly.
It is a good thing that the Lagos State Government is investigating this sad incident and is talking tough. What it mustn’t do is sweep it under the carpet like it often does. The public deserves to know what has become of the Principal and her school, every step of the investigation; and the punitive measures meted out, to serve as a deterrent to educators, tutors and instructors across the land.
Adults whose minds have been immersed in politics and whose actions are controlled by a political party or the government of the day, should not rub their political biases on the children they have been entrusted with. To do so would amount to a dereliction or abdication of duty.