Kwara State PDP on Tuesday submitted that it was deeply outraged by what it called ‘disgraceful incident’ that occurred on Monday at the Government Day Secondary School, Amule, where the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWASUBEB), Professor Raheem Adaramaja allegedly humiliated teachers and forced them — including the school Vice Principal — to sweep the school premises in the presence of the students.
PDP noted that credible eyewitnesses said Professor Adaramaja, acting on the instruction of Governor Abdulrazaq, accused the teachers of maintaining an unkempt environment, and ordered them to pick up dirt within the compound, despite explanations that the students had just returned from breaktime.
In a statement issued in Ilorin and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party said it views Adaramaja’s action not as an enforcement of discipline, but rather as a severe abuse of office and a public degradation of ‘our dedicated educational professionals who are working in a harsh environment’
‘We ask Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq if this is the new standard for the teaching profession in Kwara? To have a professor who himself was a teacher before having access to public fund, stripped teachers of their dignity and compelled them to perform tasks that belong to labourers, all in the presence of the students that they are meant to inspire?
This act, coming from Adaramaja stands as a symbol of arrogance, insensitivity, and moral bankruptcy that have become the hallmark of the Abdulrazaq-led administration.
Those who rode to power under the Otoge mantra, promising liberation from oppression have suddenly turned into power-drunk oppressors who humiliate the very workers they have failed to support and motivate.
In the six years of this government, Kwara teachers are still underpaid, unmotivated and are abandoned. Our schools remain dilapidated, and students learn under shade of trees, yet government officials find pleasure in bullying those striving to sustain the system’ the statement added.
The party urged the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), to immediately rise in defense of their members and ensure that no one tramples on the dignity of teachers while demanding that Professor Adaramaja should immediately issue an unreserved public apology to the teachers at Government Day Secondary School, Amule, and the entire teachers in Kwara State.
‘We also call on Governor Abdulrahman to publicly condemn this action and sanction the SUBEB Chairman if truly he is not in the know of this so that the dignity of civil servants will be protected in Kwara State.
Our party reaffirms our solidarity with all teachers and other civil servants across Kwara State who, despite government neglect and humiliation, continue to nurture the minds of our children’ the party added.
Reacting to the statement issued by the PDP on Tuesday night, Professor Raheem Adaramaja described the allegations of giving the teachers in question a humiliating task as untrue while restating his commitment to discipline, accountability, and excellence in the state’s education sector.
He also emphasized that his actions have always been guided by a sense of responsibility and service, not pride or abuse of authority.
‘Cleanliness and orderliness are parts of the features of an enabling learning environment. What happened at GDSS, Amule was a simple reminder that teachers must lead by example in respect of instilling discipline in students — not an act of humiliation’ he said.
An eye witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the state PDP is only trying to make a capital out of the issue and also seeking to cash in on it to score political points.
The eyewitness told Team@orientactualmags.com that KWSUBEB officials and officials from Abuja who were carrying out monitoring exercise had arrived at the school in question and where they stood which is not up to the size of two classrooms was littered with pieces of papers.
‘ The unkempt school compound was visually displeasing, especially being a Monday morning. As expected, the SUBEB Chairman complained about this and the teachers who were present apologized and picked up the pieces of papers.
Professor Adaramaja also joined in picking up the pieces of papers to show leadership by example. The monitoring team from Abuja even commended the SUBEB Chairman for his exemplary leadership role and urged the school management to always keep their small compound clean. The monitoring team thereafter left the GDSS JSS Amule for other places.
No hard feelings and nothing negative happened’ she saidTeam@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
