The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has described as ridiculous and unexplainable the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the State by the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi over the ongoing 2021 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)
The PDP publicity secretary, Raphael Adeyanju in a statement after an emergency State Working Committee (SWC) meeting presided over by the acting chairman, Lanre Omolase at the weekend noted that the action of the All Progressives Congress-led government was antithetical to the development of education in the state.
The state party said, “While we are not against the celebration of our culture and tradition, it is unexplainable that a government who goes about claiming to be restoring our values in Ekiti could close schools for two weeks just because the State is holding NAFEST.
It lamented that education, which is the pride of Ekiti and its people,” has been sacrificed for a mere festival of arts and culture by the APC government ostensibly because Governor Fayemi and his party do not value education.”
“Up till now, we are still unable to fathom out the reason any government will close primary and secondary schools, including private ones for two weeks simply because Festival of Arts and Culture is holding in the State capital.
“Here in Ekiti, pupils were simply told to stay at home until further notice with no explanation from anyone.
“In all these, what we have seen is a clear misplaced priority on the side of a party and government that do not care about the future of Ekiti children and by the power of God, just like all the afflictions of the Israelites, this phase too shall pass next year,” the statement read.
However, the APC state publicity secretary, Segun Dipe, said the one- week vacation was declared to prevent students from sneaking out of schools, by being attracted by the festival, observe their midterm and prevent students cohabiting with strangers, who are presently occupying some hostels owned by public schools.
Dipe, who described the vituperation as unreasonable and belated, said no governor could have loved education like Fayemi, who declared free education in primary and secondary schools and abrogated the levy allegedly imposed on pupils by the immediate past PDP administration.
The APC spokesperson, insisted that Fayemi has not committed any crime for declaring the holiday for students .
“Let me remind the PDP that the holiday was declared to prevent students from sneaking out of schools to go and watch the cultural fiesta. But if they are under the custody of their parents, nothing of such would happen. Again, it is also a time for them to observe their midterm holidays, having got to the middle of the first term.
“How can they expect visitors to be cohabiting with students in hostels? Because the contingents are using the school hostels. There was no governor that has been education-friendly like Governor Fayemi. He was the one that removed the pupils out of tax net. These show that the governor is a caring leader.
“We all know the economic value of NAFEST. It Marvels me that the PDP could be talking now after the expiration of the vacation. For Fayemi’s love for education, school enrolment has gone up, teachers’ salaries are paid regularly, they can access loans easily and they are given incentives like trainings and workshops to sharpen their performances.”
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