The Cross Rivers state government has ordered the suspension of early morning devotions held in primary and secondary schools across the state. A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in the state, Anne Odey, stated that the decision to suspend the devotion came from security concerns raised by the state Commissioner of Police, Henry Fadairo.
She said the state police commission had suggested the suspension of the age long practice following the prevailing security concerns in the country.
In a swift reaction, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the state released a statement rejecting the suspension of the early morning devotion by the state government. The statement which was signed by the chairman of CAN in the state, Archbishop Joseph
Edra Ukpo, reads in part;
โSequel to the letter from the Ministry of Education with reference No MOE/S132/VOL 1, by the Permanent Sectary of the Ministry of Education dated October 21, directing public and private primary/secondary schools across the state to suspend all assemblies (morning and afternoon) till further notice, the Christian Association of Nigeria , Cross River State chapter, hereby, says that such directive is totally unacceptable. This directive will negatively affect the moral upbringing of our children who are future leaders of this countryโ.
