· As student featured in viral TikTok video suffers huge academic setback
A storm of controversy has erupted at the Delta State College of Nursing amid allegations that Osato Edobor, a very bright final-year student, was deliberately failed in her final examinations following a viral video showing her and fellow students rejecting a ceremonial gesture towards Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The video, which made rounds in March 2025, captured the moment students in unison, disagreed with the Executive Assistant to the State Governor, Pastor Tos Powell Ojogho, the Master of Ceremony, MC, who led a political song, chanting, “Na our Mama be this o, we no get another one, na our Mama be this o.”
The students had in one voice, rejected the call by responding: “Na your mama be this.”
This incident happened when the First Lady was visiting Asaba as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative health outreach.
Edobor, one of the students seen in the footage, became the focus of the school’s disciplinary action shortly after the incident.
Despite being known for academic excellence since her admission, she has now allegedly failed her final exams, sparking widespread outcry over what many believe is a case of institutional victimisation and political witch-hunt.
“This is a clear case of punishment masked as assessment. Osato has consistently been one of the best students in her class. She didn’t just suddenly start failing. This is clearly connected to the viral video and the political fallout,” a source who opted to remain anonymous in order to avoid victimisation said.
It would be recalled that following the incident, the College issued a query accusing Edobor of “malicious conduct” for recording and posting the event on social media while in uniform.
The March 27 query, signed by the Provost Mrs. Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne, referenced the student handbook and accused her of violating professional and institutional ethics.
The provost further claimed in a statement that Edobor brought disrepute to the institution, alleging that her conduct included comments that were disrespectful to both the First Lady and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
“She insulted the governor and said if she had a gun, she would have bombed people,” the provost claimed, an allegation Edobor’s video does not explicitly support.
The student also joked about not knowing the school’s anthem and not remembering the Delta State Governor’s name, adding, “I’m not from Delta State.”
Amid the backlash, the Delta State Government intervened, with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, ordering the withdrawal of the query and assuring the public that no student would be victimised.
But contrary to that assurance from the state government, sources claim that the student’s examination failure is a veiled continuation of the punishment.
Observers and activists have described the case as a dangerous precedent, where institutional power is allegedly being used to punish dissent and silence free expression among students.
“This is not just about one student, it’s about whether our educational institutions will respect freedom of speech and fair treatment or cave to political intimidation,” one civil rights advocate said.
Efforts to get an official response from the State government was unsuccessful as text messages sent to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme and his Information counterpart, Mr. Charles Aniagwu went unanswered.
