Group Carpets Governor Okowa Over Withdrawal Of Security Men From Primary Schools

… Gives 14 Day Ultimatum To Revise Decision.

By Spence Okwagbaye

The recent but shocking withdrawal of security men from public primary schools in Delta State has been described by a group as inhumane, barbaric and one of the most unpopular decisions ever taken by the Okowa led government.

While stating that the decision is unacceptable and must be reversed without further delay, a group which called itself ‘Concerned Parents of Primary School Children in Delta’ said those responsible for the initiation of such satanic idea to the governor should be branded anti-children safety and should therefore be made to face the music by applying the most stringent sanctions on them.

But if on the other hand, it was the sole decision of Governor Okowa, the Concerned Parents Body said, the governor and the government should be ready to face the wrath of the group in the event that he refuses to rescind his decision.

The group in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Asaba and made available to newsmen stated categorically that “after a very careful and meticulous review of government recent decision, the body was at a loss over why government who recently won a second term in office and pledged to take the welfare and security of Deltans as priority could wake up within a month of such promise and take such anti-people decision especially now that we have so much insecurity in the land” 

The communiqué signed by Messrs Frank Okeke and Onoriode Omovudu, protem Chairman and Secretary respectively also lampooned government for taking a decision of such magnitude without giving reasons for their action.

They therefore declared “we the Concerned Parents of Primary School Children in Delta hereby give a 14 – day ultimatum to governor Okowa to direct the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to immediately withdraw such letter by returning all the security men to their former place of work or be ready to face any decision that will be taken shortly”.

The contentious letter from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and addressed to some heads of primary schools in the State and obtained by Journalists, reads in parts; “I am directed to refer to the above subject and to inform you that the aforementioned security men attached to your school is henceforth withdrawn back to SUBEB Headquarters, Asaba. Please note that the withdrawal is with immediate effect.”

The letter was signed by one Mr. Okolie Uche on behalf of the Executive Chairman of SUBEB and was dated 17th June, 2019.

While Deltans awaits official response from government as to why such hasty decision was taken, investigation revealed that the decision might not be unconnected with the recent Federal Government Policy Statement directing the Accountant General of the Federation to release money directly to all the 774 Local Governments Areas of the country without such passing through the various State Governors thereby giving fillip to the long awaited implementation of the local government autonomy in the country.