While the Cross River State Government has directed that morning devotion in secondary and primary schools across schools be stopped forthwith, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has swiftly rejected the directive by Government saying such a directive is totally unacceptable to the Association.
In a release made available to the media and signed by its state Chairman, Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo, CAN called on the state government to immediately withdraw such a directive as it is against freedom of worship hitherto practiced in the state.
CAN’s release reads; “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 21st October, 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”.
The umbrella Christian body said the directive is a negation of freedom of speech and therefore unacceptable to Christians in the state. “This directive will negatively affect the moral upbringing of our children who are future leaders of this country”.
Anne Odey, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in the state had last week written a letter to all the schools across the state, both primary and secondary, ordering for the suspension of morning and afternoon devotion.
When contacted, Odey said the directive came from the Commissioner of Police in the state, Henry Fadairo, in view of prevailing security concerns in the country and not the state government trying to stop the age long practice established by missionaries who started most of the schools in the state.
It’s really sad indeed. May the good lord help us.