PDP Faults Closure Of Schools In Ekiti For A Week During NAFEST

By Ayodele Oni

The National Arts Festival, (NAFEST) hosted by Ekiti state, ended officially on Saturday just as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State said the festival was not worth closing public schools for a week.

The opposition party berated  Governor Kayode Fayemi for ordering students to stay at home for a week just because  the state was hosting NAFEST.

The State government had announced vacation of a week for primary and secondary schools, both private and public as a result of the festival.

NAFEST, an annual event, attended by the 36 States, was held between 14th and 20th November with some of the schools facilities, especially hostel accommodation put into use by the participating states.

But, the PDP, said it did not warrant closure of schools saying the development was ridiculous and unexplainable.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Raphael Adeyanju, in a statement, pointed out that it was appalling that Ekiti children have been made to stay at home since for a week just because the state is hosting NAFEST.

“While we are not against the celebration of our culture and tradition, it is unexplainable that a government who goes about claiming to be restoring our values in Ekiti could close schools for a week just because the State is hosting NAFEST.”

According to PDP, education, which is the pride of Ekiti and its people, has been sacrificed for a mere festival of arts and culture by the APC government ostensibly because Governor Fayemi and his party do not value education.

“Up till now, we are still unable to fathom out the reason any government will close primary and secondary schools, including private ones for two weeks simply because Festival of Arts and Culture is holding in the state capital.

“Here in Ekiti, pupils were simply told to stay at home until further notice with no explanation from anyone.

“We wonder the benefits of NAFEST in which the only activities that can be seen at the venue is display of wares, including used clothes and shoes, to Ekiti State such that the future of thousands of our children will be put into jeopardy.

“Most importantly, even if NAFEST has become so much a priority to Governor Fayemi and his APC government, what is the rationale behind closure of schools in other towns where the event is not being held? Or is NAFEST holding in all the towns and villages in Ekiti State?

“In all these, what we have seen is a clear misplaced priority on the side of a party and government that do not care about the future of Ekiti children and by the power of God, just like all the afflictions of the Israelites, this phase too shall pass next year.”

However, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, said the one-week vacation was declared to prevent students from sneaking out of schools, if attracted by the festival.

He explained that the period was also used to observe their midterm break and this prevented the students from cohabiting with strangers, who occupied some hostels owned by public schools.

The APC spokesman insisted that Governor Fayemi has not committed any crime for declaring the holiday for students.

“Let me remind the PDP that the holiday was declared to prevent students from sneaking out of schools to go and watch the cultural fiesta.

“But if they are under the custody of their parents, nothing of such would happen. Again, it is also a time for them to observe their midterm holidays, having got to the middle of the first term.

“How can they expect visitors to be cohabiting with students in hostels? Because the contingents are using the school hostels. There was no governor that has been education-friendly like Governor Fayemi.

“He was the one that removed the pupils out of tax net. These show that the governor is a caring leader.

“We all know the economic value of NAFEST. It amazes me that the PDP could be talking now after the expiration of the vacation. For Fayemi’s love for education, school enrolment has gone up, teachers’ salaries are paid regularly, they can access loans easily and they are given incentives like training and workshops to sharpen their performances.”

Ekiti state won the first position in the week long festival, adjudged to be the best ever held by participants.