Professor Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River has taken to social media website, Twitter to declaim a directive to schools in his state to discontinue morning devotion.
Ayade reveals that the directive to ban Christian prayer in schools did not come from his office and he was never briefed before the circular was issued. He also said that the permanent secretary who issued the circular claimed she did so on the orders of the commissioner of police.
RELATED: Tension As Gov’t Clamps Down On Religious Freedom In Schools In Cross River
The governor also said that he has set up a panel to recommend appropriate sanctions.
I have not banned devotion, prayers or assemblies in schools in Cross River
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
The circular issued by the Permanent Secretary was neither at my instance nor with my knowledge
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
She claims to have acted on a directive from Commission of Police due to security concerns
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
Commissioner of police
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
I have directed that the circular be disregarded and a panel set up to recommend appropriate sanctions
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
She claims to have acted at the prompting of the Commissioner of Police owing to security concerns…and she did so without recourse to me
— Governor Ben Ayade (@ben_ayade) October 30, 2015
This issue with borders on religious freedoms made headline news Friday, October 29, 2015 when the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, rejected the directive of the state government which specifically banned morning and afternoon devotion in secondary and primary schools in Cross River State.
Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo, state chairman of CAN, in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, called for the state government to immediately withdraw the directive as it was unacceptable because it denied freedom of worship in the state.
“Sequel to the letter from the Ministry of Education with reference No MOE/S132/VOL 1, by the Permanent Sectary of the Ministry of Education dated October 21, directing public and private primary/secondary schools across the state to suspend all assemblies (morning and afternoon) till further notice, the Christian Association of Nigeria, Cross River State chapter, hereby, says that such directive is totally unacceptable. This directive will negatively affect the moral upbringing of our children who are future leaders of this country,” the statement said.
Mrs. Anne Odey, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education had issued a circular last week, directing all secondary and primary schools across the state to suspend morning and afternoon devotions. According to her, she was acting on the directive of the commissioner of police, Mr. Henry Fadairo “in view of prevailing security concerns in the country”.
Many schools in Cross River State are missionary schools.
