Greetings, Your Excellency, Mr. President.
I hope this letter gets to you as you have not been seen in radar of the profession which I belong, the Films, Arts, Creative and Entertainment industry a.k.a Nollywood, the abandoned Sector.
Mr President, somebody have to tell you some hidden facts and truth about this Nation, Nigeria. Everything is obviously not known to you. I am largely unknown but known to have supported you in getting to the Presidency as the Nation’s number one. The rigorous campaign we did for your emergence is not regretted still.
Though the opposition calls us names up till now for campaigning for you, we still see our President as the Best in this circumstance.
However, I will speak truth to power. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not been Just, Fair and Appreciative of the creative Sector of NIGERIA. I say this with every sense of conviction particularly as it relates to the recent Official Opening of the National Arts Theatre which was renamed after our ably qualified Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate. Prof deserves the name but that event is yet another slap on the faces of the entire industry players.
There are many reasons why it is a slap. The theatre industry was not aware of the “packaged” ceremony without sensible inputs of technocrats in the entire Nation. Ninety-five percent(95%) of the Industry are grumbling and complaining as usual.
That National Theatre renovation project was former President Muhammadu Buhari and Godwin Emefiele-wrongly initiated and badly executed project, tossed to Your Excellency to conclude the shenanigans of the last Government. It was another Fraud and Conduit pipe and Scheme of Emefiele and Co.
I personally hinted the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed about the defective conception and wrong Proposal for the Industry, which he agreed but unfortunately not corrected.
Mr. President, over a Hundred Million Dollars($100,000,000) allegedly expended on the renovation of that Cultural Centre is huge enough to build over 100 Theatres and Cinema Houses in all Senatorial Districts in Nigeria that would engage several millions of Nigerians in the practice and beyond, creating Jobs for Arts.
For Eight years, the Buhari Government did not do one single tangible thing for the sector that earned Nigeria the global recognition as the Most happiest people on earth despite all its challenges. That is sadly the route your Government seem to be following.
Kudos to your amiable Minister, Barrister Hannatu Musawa who has been up and doing, working tirelessly, with her team in an unprecedented manner, bringing innovations, supporting Creatives, etc but all her efforts are not conspicuous due to the long-term abandonment from the Presidency.
We in the Film and Creative industry are taking note of successive Administrations and I can tell Mr. President categorically that only the Government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as President, made significant impact on the industry, albeit lopsided but at least he made something we all talk good about till date.
Mr President, the industry players are not happy with you for the derogation and total abandonment of the Industry. The Bankers Forum should not take the glory of millions of Nigerians who have laboured and sweated for the greatness of Nigeria through their Arts and Craft, people who have from the beginning built the industry with support from family friends and personal efforts and not from Banks. We have single-handedly built the industry for four decades without Government involvement or support. Kindly show and appreciate their contribution and support.
We, industry players, demand to see the Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding signed on the Theatre Project.
We demand that you allow the Creatives make inputs and impacts in the Government for your agenda.
Our Nollywood and Theatre Arts’ Hope is Not Yet renewed in your Government. Pay attention to the abandoned sector. I must let you know the people are Not happy.
Hon. Kehinde Soaga(dgn), Film Maker, Author and Media Consultant, writes from Abeokuta.
