In a swift turnaround following public outcry, the Delta State College of Nursing Science has officially withdrawn the query issued to Osatohemwen Edobor, a student penalized for posting a video from a health event attended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
The controversy erupted after Edobor shared footage from the event, where nursing students refused to sing praises of the First Lady.
The compere at the event had started a chant, “Na awa mama be this; we no get another one,” to which the students responded dismissively, “Na your mama be this.” The school reacted by issuing a query to Edobor, a move that triggered widespread criticism from human rights activists, including Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who condemned it as an attack on free expression.
Following intense pressure, the college retracted the disciplinary action in a letter signed by the school provost, Mrs. R. Evbödaghe, and dated March 28, 2025. The letter referenced a directive from Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, instructing the school to cancel the query.
“The school authority regrets any inconveniences this must have caused the state,” the letter read, signaling an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
The incident highlights the growing tension between institutions and students over freedom of expression, with many questioning whether loyalty to political figures should be enforced in academic spaces. While the withdrawal of the query is seen as a victory for free speech, it raises concerns about institutional overreach and the role of political influence in education.