By Adejumo Adekunle-
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School Bows to Pressure, Withdraws Controversial Query Letter
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Rights Activists Condemn Move, Demand Accountability
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Health Commissioner Intervenes, Orders Retraction
The Delta State College of Nursing Science has succumbed to intense backlash and rescinded the query letter issued to Osatohemwen Edobor, a student who recorded a controversial video at an event attended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
Edobor had initially faced disciplinary action after sharing footage of nursing students refusing to sing praises of Mrs. Tinubu during a health program in Asaba. The event, themed ‘Health Programme and Distribution of 10,000 Professional Kits,’ turned dramatic when the compere led a song hailing the First Lady, chanting, “Na awa mama be this; we no get another one.” The students, however, rejected the praise, responding instead with, “Na your mama be this.”
The college’s decision to penalize Edobor sparked widespread criticism, with activists Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Inibehe Effiong leading calls for the query’s withdrawal. Amid mounting pressure, the institution reversed its stance in a letter dated March 28, 2025, signed by Provost Mrs. R. Evbödaghe.
The letter, citing a directive from the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, instructed Edobor to return the query letter through the student affairs office. It also expressed regret over the incident and any inconvenience it may have caused.
The retraction marks a victory for free expression advocates, but questions linger over the institution’s initial stance and broader concerns about institutional overreach in student affairs.
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