The Ondo State Government has officially directed the recitation of Oduduwa Anthem in all public schools and official functions across the state.
This is coming amid raging calls for secession and actualization of the Oduduwa Republic.
The Southwest governors are expected to attend a meeting convened by former APC interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, in Lagos on May 23 over the agitation.
On February 18, 2021, the State Executive Council, before its dissolution, had approved the adoption of the Oduduwa Anthem to be sung after the National Anthem at official and public functions.
The state government in a circular dated May 6, 2021, and obtained by 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE, however directed the recitation of the ethnic anthem in all public schools and official functions across the state.
The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Teaching Service Commission, Tolu Adeyemi, and addressed to the tutor-generals, all TESCOM zonal directors and all principals of public secondary schools.
“The present administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has adopted Oduduwa Anthem as part of the civic responsibility of all residents in the state,” the circular stated.
“To this end, the singing of the Oduduwa Anthem has become mandatory at all functions in all public secondary schools in the state.
“Therefore, all schools’ principals and other top functionaries in the public secondary schools are enjoined to adopt, teach and encourage the singing of Oduduwa Anthem at all functions, especially, at the morning assembly in all schools. The copy of the song is hereby attached.
“Kindly internalise and externalise the contents of this circular. My kind regards, always.”
‘Oduduwa Anthem ploy to obliterate Ijaws from Ondo’
Governor Akerodolu came under serious attacks over the adoption of the Yoruba ethnic anthem across the state.
A member in the Ondo House of Assembly, Mr Success Torhukerhijo, representing Ese-Odo Constituency, said it was preposterous to adopt an anthem for the state in Yoruba language without thinking of the concerns of the Ijaws where the state has two ethnic nationalities- the majority Yoruba and the minority Ijaw.
In a statement issued in Akure, the lawmaker said it was a ploy to obliterate the Ijaws from the history of Ondo State.
“This is intolerable and is out rightly rejected by the Ijaw ethnic nationality,” he said.
“It is perplexing that the governor in spite of his pedigree does not possess the political will for an all-inclusive government and the Ijaws of Ondo State have been consistently subjected to neglect and abandonment on issues of state by his executive and administrative actions,” the lawmaker said.
It’s Ondo Anthem, not Oduduwa’s – Akerodolu’s spokesperson
When this newspaper on Wednesday contacted the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Akerodolu, Mr Olabode Richard Olatunde, he confirmed the authenticity of the circular, saying however that it’s Ondo Anthem, not Oduduwa Anthem.
He forwarded a statement to this newspaper, making the clarifications, even though he refused to elaborate on the content of the circular where the ethnic song was boldly written as “Oduduwa Anthem.”
The statement said “…it has come to the notice of the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, that the anthem is being referred to as Oodua Anthem.
“Governor Akeredolu wishes to state that what was approved for the state is Ondo State Anthem but not Oodua Anthem.
“The intention of adopting the Ondo State Anthem is to promote the tradition and culture of the Yoruba race.
“This clarification is necessary in order to avoid misinterpretation, misconception and outright misunderstanding of the aim of the state government.”