ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,SEE "THE REASON"-A PLAY BY KURIOUS K.

NOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR “KURIOUS K” RELEASES A NEW PLAY TITLED “THE REASON”, IN MEMORY OF THE UNLAWFUL DEMOLITION OF ARTIST’S VILLAGE BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND CULTURE “ALH. LAI MOHAMED”. 

The practical experience I encountered during the unlawful demolition of the Artist’s Village, National Theatre, Lagos in January 23rd, 2016, under the minister for information and culture, Alhaji. Lai Mohamed inspired me to put together this play titled “THE REASON”. I was a victim. It was a bitter experience. Our right as citizens of this country Nigeria was abused. The structures in the artist’s village were demolished without any quit notice or information from the federal government, informing the residents that the artist’s village would be demolished. The artist’s village was not only demolished but our art works and properties worth more than five hundred million naira were also destroyed.

 Many artists were injured by the police when the artists tried to enquire from them why they came to destroy the artist’s village without ant quit notice or earlier information about the destruction. One visual artist was shot on his leg, and others were injured. I was one of the injured victims. I was disappointed when the minister for information and culture “Alhaji Lai Mohamed” visited the artist’s village few hours after the ugly incident, and looked at my injury as I was shading tears because of the deep pains I was feeling in my body, and told me that my injury was small. He did not render any form of support for my treatment, even when he saw fresh blood flowing out of my body, all he told me was that “your injury is small”. He instantly denied having instructed anybody to destroy the artist’s village. Lai Mohamed also promised to compensate the affected victims. He also wrote a letter to the artists, promised to build temporary structures, and to pay the sum of twenty million naira to the affected victims. And also he promised to build a world class artist’s village for Nigerian artists. But, up till now, the minister has not fulfilled any of his promises. This is a big insult to our arts sector.  It is so sad that a minister who was appointed to develop our arts destroyed our arts. This is an irony of power and motives… 

However, some of the affected artists are still very frustrated as result of the ugly encounter. Some of them that are very determined in their arts profession are still doing their work under the rain and sun without shelter. This is not good for the artists. 

 We decided to stage this play “THE REASON” to remind the government the importance of arts, and also to motivate the government to build a world class artist’s village for Nigerian artists.

The play “THE REASON” written by “Kingsley Anosike Agubom (Kurious K)” talks about the reflection of the struggle for liberation by the youths who feel oppressed and intimidated by the leadership of the nation. These youths are aggrieved, wounded and demand for true justice and equity in governance.

 Moreover, this stage play “THE REASON” is scheduled to be staged in Lagos on the 26th of January 2020, as four years memorial of the unlawful demolition of artist’s village. We want to use this medium to remind the Hon. Minister “Alh. Lai Mohamed” to redeem his promises. We are also calling on Nigerians, corporate organizations and international organizations to support this project. Let us join hands together and make Nigeria better