The Niger State government has issued a serious warning to teachers involved in coaching a primary school pupil who criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration and invoked thunder on Nigerian politicians during a school debate.
Abdul-Kabiru Abdulkadir, a primary five pupil of Kasimu Primary School, Agaie, gained attention last week after a video of his passionate speech on Nigeria’s social, political, and economic challenges went viral.
In the video, Master Abdulkadir condemned the prevailing economic hardship under Tinubu’s leadership, expressing frustration with rising prices of goods and services, as reported by Peoples Gazette.
“Last year, we voted for Tinubu with the hope that things will get better. Upon his swearing-in, the first thing he did was remove fuel subsidy, throwing the whole nation into hardship. Prices of goods and services continue to rise; Tinubu, with all his charisma, cannot handle this country the way we want,” Master Abdulkadir said.
He also called for divine intervention to eliminate corrupt politicians, decrying the exotic cars bought by federal lawmakers while retired teachers who are owed pensions are dying of hunger.
“Oh thunder, this is the time you should strike and eliminate all of them. Or join all of them in one aeroplane so that they will all crash land and our nation will have peace,” he declared.
The Ministry of Education, through its spokesperson, Jibrin Usman Kodo, condemned the pupil’s choice of words as vulgar and violent, pledging to investigate and take disciplinary action against those responsible for coaching him.
“The ministry, under the leadership of the Hon. Commissioner, Dr Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, emphasised the importance of promoting a positive and respectful learning environment for students and pupils at their formative age; the use of vulgar and violent languages not only reflects poor orientation for the individual pupil but also on the school and the educational system as a whole.
“In view of the foregoing, the commissioner has vowed to investigate the incident further and take appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible for coaching the student to use such language,” the statement partly reads.
While the ministry is set to probe the incident, many Nigerians sympathize with Master Abdulkadir’s sentiments, especially considering the country’s harsh economic realities.
Protests have erupted in various states, including Niger and Lagos, with citizens expressing grievances over food price hikes and deteriorating living conditions.
