Ondo Principal Defies Governor’s Order to Reinstate Expelled Blind Students

 The Principal of the Ondo State School of the Visually Impaired, Owo, Mrs. Morolayo Agbele, has openly defied Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s directive to reinstate six expelled students.

The students were expelled earlier this month after staging a protest over the poor quality of meals served at the school and the hardship of trekking along a major highway to attend classes at Owo High School, following the breakdown of their school bus.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, reacting to public outcry, had ordered their immediate reinstatement two weeks ago. But Mrs. Agbele, addressing journalists on Tuesday, insisted she would not comply without a formal written directive.

“The school is a state government school, and all my actions are strictly based on directives from the Ondo State Ministry of Education,” she said.
“I have not received any black-and-white (written) directive, whether from the Ministry or in connection with the Governor’s statement—authorising me to readmit them.”

The development has sparked fresh debate over school management autonomy, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and the welfare of students living with disabilities in state-run institutions.