Parents, Students Wept Bitterly In Edo Community As School Principal Embezzles WAEC Fees

There was bitter weeping and lamentations across Uhonmora Ora community in Owan-West Local Government Area of Edo state at the weekend as 68 SSS 3 students who enrolled for the Ongoing West African Certificate Examination, WAEC discovered that despite payment of Enrollment fees , they were not enrolled by the Principal, Mr Adefemi Adewale

The parents who are largely peasant farmers alongside their children cried their lives out in the better part of Friday as they moved from Uhonmora-Ora Community to Neighbouring Sabongidda-Ora community were the principal was detained

The community’s response to the ugly development was contained in strong worded statement issued Friday night in Abuja by the Newly elected President-General of the Uhonmora Progressive Union, Worldwide, Comrade Ikharo Attah.

Attah lamented that this is the second time this same principal is doing this to the community noting that in 2023, he embezzled the students WAEC money, thus leaving them at the Mercy of NECO.

In the statement, the group which is the umbrella body of all organizations, unions clubs and associations linked to Uhonmora Community condemned in the strongest of Terms what it described as, “an attempt to destroy the future leaders and pillars of our respective community and deny them right to education”

The group further stated that, “ We are appealing to Governor Godwin Obaseki and The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Blessing Agbebaku to do all within their powers to ensure that these already traumatized students are not denied the 2024 WAEC and NECO Examinations their suffering parents toiled hard to pay for. The greatest disservice to our community is to allow these students waste a full year at home for no fault of theirs. They must not be allowed to sit in tears while their mates gain admission into tertiary institutions by the last quarter of this year”

“The most painful part of this show of evil by the principal is that the parents of these students are peasants farmers who toiled the fields, sold their crops and even borrowed money with the hope of seeing their children in higher institutions”

“our community which sees the Principal as highest education officer posted to it by the Edo state government is now demanding his immediate transfer out of the school and possible sack from the state civil service to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the system”

“while the police investigation on the matter is ongoing, we call on Edo State education commissioner to visit the school and encourage the students who went to write examination friday but spent the whole day at Sabongidda-Ora police station writing statements over the pathetic incident. These students ought never to go through this at their age and during examination period”

“We commend His Royal Highness The Ara of Uhonmora, the Uhonmora council of chiefs and other prominent sons and daughters who acted swiftly to calm the situation and ensure the peace Uhonmora people are known for is not breeched”

“ For the parents of the 68 affected students we call on them to remain calm and hopeful and as we are confident that the Government of Edo state would do the needful and correct the extreme damage done to these students by the Principal”

“We also commend the Divisional police officer of the Sabo Division and his men for professionally handling the matter so far and also ensuring orderliness in the face extreme shock and unprovoked pain inflicted on the students and their parents “

The Uhonmora Progressive Union, worldwide lauded the sons and daughters of Uhonmora for their show of support, solidarity and Unity since the sad news broke Friday morning.