…Says The Level is Illegal
The Ogun state Indigenous Entertainment Professionals Forum has sought for the reversal of 20,000 per day charged the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) by the state government before the Association can use the premises of Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, adding that the level is illegal for the real owner of the venue.
In a press release jointly signed by one Mr. Bayo Bankole and Mr. Kehinde Soaga for the Board of Trustee of the forum and made available to the newsmen, condemned the action and frown over the negligence of the government on the entertainment industry, adding that the centre was only renovated for the political gathering.
The forum however, called on the state governor to take action before the stakeholders in the industry would get hostiled.
According to the release “The ogun state Indigenous forum of entertainment has strongly condemned the state government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism over the manner in which ogun indigen artists were treated on issue of Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
“The abandonment of the sector and subsequent illegal charges on the entertainment practitioners on the cultural centre.
“The government is charging 20,000 per day for artists to converge under the Tree in the premises of state’s cultural centre, Abeokuta.
“The government has not done any feasible single support to the industry and it’s practitioners in the past four years of it existence except for refurbishing the cultural centre which is used only for government events and political meetings of no cultural value to the state.
“The centre, in line with Section 6.1.1 (The Arts) of National Cultural policy which state that: the state shall preserve, promote and establish conducive conditions for creativity by encouraging the establishment of strong National Professional Association for artists, authors, dramatists, film makers, is jettisoned by the government. It was read at the commissioning of the centre which was facilitated by Babangida Military Government on the basic of the same ANTP theatre practitioners led by Late Hubert Ogunde of blessed memory.
“Our legitimate centre is being commercialize event centre and artists are now being denied the use of the premises of the centre.
“A levy for commercial Hall usage for projects is understandable, and needs to be discussed with us as stakeholders and partners in development of Art and Culture of our dear state.
“Ogun state as it is renowned for it’s creative and artistic Excellence in Nigeria as been without any tangible support from the present government. A levy of any sorts on the real owners of the venue is not only illegal as act establishing the centre dictates but also preposterous.
“The indigen artists, entertainers, media professionals forum hereby seek for the reversal of all actions inimical to the development of the sector but the government.
“We call on our amiable governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to take urgent steps to abate the confrontation by the entertainment professionals in Ogun state.