Professor Wole Soyinka has called for a holistic investigation, compensation and punishment where appropriate over the demolition of the artist’s village located on the expanse of land of the National Arts Theatre Iganmu.
The Nobel laureate who was visibly furious over the demolition asked for an enquiry into the demolition and shooting of an artist by armed policemen in the presence of the Director General (DG) of National Arts Theatre Mallam Yusuf Kabiru Yar’dua.
The Artists Village was demolished on Saturday, January 23, 2016, allegedly on the order of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to the DG.
After the demolition, the artists took placards to protest the demolition and their eviction from the Artists Village without any prior notice and the minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed met with the artists at the National Theatre at exactly pm same day of the demolition and addressed them. Contrary to what the DG had told them that the minister ordered the demolition, the minister was alleged to have said he told him to demolish slums, shanties around the National Theatre and not artists’ workshops and village.
According to Mufu Onifade, one of the artists who were lucky to be in his studio that as early as 6 am, when he approached the DG to give them time to pack their artworks and properties, he said the DG gave them just 15 minutes and they were only able to salvage not much.
But on the artists’ part they believed the demolition is a vendetta on the part of the DG. According to them, when the concession of the National Arts Theatre was moved, the professional body of the artists National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) had kicked against it vehemently. So they believed the DG picked on them and not the shanties ordered by the minister.
During the demolition, a sculptor Smart Ovie was allegedly shot by the divisional police officer (DPO) of Oyingbo police station who also denied to give him police report on demand by the hospital before they will treat him.
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