Urhokpota Reporters caught up with one of the staffs of the Ministry of Arts and Culture who reluctantly oblige our request for an interview on the happenings in the ministry. Although he pleaded anonymity which we have granted by not disclosing his identity. Read the interview below
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MINISTRY OF ARTS AND CULTURE?
“The Ministry of Arts and Culture, nothing is happening there. The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism just like several other ministries nothing is happening. Not because I want to exaggerate or I want to make it happen. There is already an understanding amogst the workers in the office that whenever a particular commissioner or Permanent Secretary (PS) is under punishment by Oshiomhole that’s when he or she is posted to that ministry. Since Oshiomohole came in, we’ve had only one commissioner; she’s a lady. I don’t know if it’s because she’s a woman that’s why she was just left there. The bulk of the work that the ministry is supposed to take care of, and by extension the Arts council which is a parastatal under the ministry as we speak even the office of the commissioner has enveloped the work of the council because there is really nothing much coming in there .The Arts Council is a parastatal just like you have EBS under information. The Ministry used to be in those government buildings along Ezoti Road. It was Oshiomohole’s administration that brought the Arts Ministry to the Oba Akenzuwa Cultural Centre compound; otherwise the other block where you have Nollywood Cinema was originally designed as a guesthouse to the main theater. So as we speak, the place has been flooded with a group of indiscipline boys and they say they are fighting indiscipline”.
HOW WAS THE MINISTRY BEFORE THE COMING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION?
“Before Oshiomohole came in, while I was in school I used to come there on a regular basis because if we had any place to practice what we are being taught in school, it should be that place just like we have in other States. Students from theater, media and performing art generally are always happy to come to the arts council to do something, it’s like stepping ahead for them, so we used to enjoy plays from there by the arts council. We come to the hall, there we see performances that enhance our academic works, knowledge about our history and all of that, but all that died since Comrade governor came. There used to be the culture of attending festivals within and outside Nigeria, as we speak we still have staffs there who can testify in the administration of Lucky Igbinedion how they visited some states and some countries like Spain, India, Germany, Greece, and even the U.S. But the last time they attended those places was before this administration. Even at the level of National Arts Festival, which is very minimal in cost, the last time we attended was 2011 and the cost was very shocking to hear, the cost was about N5million and it was held in Cross River. Since it’s a National Art Festival, a particular state will host the entire country. The last one we attended was in Calaber and Cross River hosted. The next one was supposed to be Bayelsa we were not there, our space was empty. Edo State is always the opium of cultural festivals in Nigeria even cultural events that Non governmental Organisations and individual organizations organise; they invite Edo group because Edo goes there to spice the whole thing up. But it was a shame that we were not there and even the Abuja carnival we don’t attend anymore and these are the opportunities that performing artist always wait for even the creative visual artist they wait for all these opportunities to boost their works and even boost their pockets at intervals. If you are busy with these activities you don’t even remember if the government employs people because you are ordinarily occupied. For a staff, it is better to remain a civil servant than to just go back to your house”.
WE HEARD THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT LAST YEAR BY THE MINISTRY TO ORGANISE EDO FESTIVAL
“(Laughs) That was in December last year when a madam talking about the Commissioner courageously wanted to host Edo Festival of which she still did; it was a mockery of the way it ought to be judging from the fact that the ministry had a go ahead from the government house according to the leadership of the Ministry. The date was finally on us and money was yet to come from the government house. The government house cannot say they supported any idea without money, it means it is fraudulent. So the day came, the comrade governor sent his deputy to come and open the ceremony while we were still waiting and hoping that we will get the money towards the middle of the program. As the programme was going on and dignitaries seated, rumor filtered in that the comrade governor sent a message to the Commissioner that the programme should be scraped, it was getting obvious to the knowledge of the participants that money did not come from the government house. Investors became agitated and in no time, the Commissioner was held hostage for hours before the intervention of the Nigerian Police. They had to come into the compound that night; the commissioner was later whisked away. Such has been the lot of the Ministry of Arts and Culture under the Comrade governor. How can a governor scrap a programme when it was ongoing? That is simply the height of dictatorship under this government. No one dare speak out and this is the reason I have not disclosed my identity to you, but we have to find a way to let Edo people know what the State has become under the comrade governor”.
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