From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Following a report in Daily Sun of February 1 that the principal of Government Secondary School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Mr. Ogbonnia Nwachi, was facing intimidation, possible litigation and threats of losing his job for expelling an SS2 student, Chidiebere, who allegedly forced a JSS1 student, Onwe, to drink garri laced with a harmful substance in school, some stakeholders from the host community have charged the state government, old boys’ association of the school and the parent-teacher association to ensure that no harm befalls the principal. According to them, the principal acted in good conscience and ought to be commended, rather than vilified.
In the petition by Egwu Lawrence Uchenna, Comrade Oko Jesse Ogbonnia, Azubuike Francis Eluu, Hon. Agha Lawrence Urom and Ekuma Johnson Uroh, the group said: “Our attention has been drawn to an unfortunate incident that occurred on June 18, 2022, at the Government Secondary School, Afikpo, where one senior student, Chidiebere (a hostel captain), soaked and poisoned garri, and then forced a junior student named Onwe to eat the garri.
“Consequently, following careful investigation and recommendations, the delinquent student was expelled by the school management, led by the principal, Mr. Ogbonnia Nwachi. However, it has been reported that the parents of the delinquent and expelled student and their allies, notably one Mr. David Egbu of the Ebonyi Secondary Education Board, instead of being sober and circumspect in addressing the problem, have resorted to threatening the principal with sack and litigation, if he failed to recall their son.
“We, the undersigned concerned stakeholders from Afikpo, hereby condemn in strong terms the attitude of the parents of Chidiebere, Mr. David Egbu, and their other allies. We, therefore, call on the relevant authorities to swiftly wade into this matter to ensure that the principal, Mr. Ogbonnia Nwachi’s life and job are protected; the parents of the expelled student and their confederates are held responsible for any harm to Mr. Nwachi; and standards and discipline are continually maintained in our private and public schools.
“From inception, schools have been avowed to be the moulding ground for children towards becoming responsible and law-abiding citizens, where the rod when need be must not be spared. Appropriate reprimand of a student is not to be seen and treated as a crime by any person or group, irrespective of social or political status.”
Daily Sun had reported that a staff of the school, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that, since the principal took the said action, he has not known peace, as he had before now received a counter-order from the office of the Secondary Education Board (SEB), Ebonyi State, through the chairman, David Egbu, a lawyer, directing that the expelled student should be called back without hesitation.
Other powerful individuals and groups have also threatened Nwachi with litigation and sack, among others.