It seems that the center would not hold much longer for the current Minister for Culture and Tourism Chief Edem Duke. As information reaching
Society Reporters NG reveals that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, is not happy with the minister and has
even gone as far as making moves to replace him. The president has asked members of his inner cabinet to shop for a replacement for Chief
Duke because according to a competent source, ‘the President is crossed with the always faltering Minister of Culture for the manner the minister
misled him into approving the sack of a serving Director General of a parastatal under his ministry, so as to pave way for the appointment of the
son of his close friend and business associate’.
Society Reporters NG gathered that the minister on Thursday 11 Sept 2014, announced the removal of the artistic director of the National Troupe
Mr Martin Adaji and in his place appointed Akin Adejuwon, son of his bosom friend Mr. Franklin Adejumo, as Artistic director.
Akin, a fine artist, is based in the UK and his father Dr. Franklin Adejuwon according to same source, has been a longtime associate of Edem Duke,
their friendship spans over 3 decades, and Dr. Adejuwon has pressurized Duke to use his influence and connections to secure a job for his son who
is not known to any theatre practitioner in Nigeria. In fact when the news was relayed on NTA news two days ago, none of the theatre practitioners
knew or have heard about their new Director, Akin Adejuwon, who has taken over a job meant for a theory and practically oriented theatre
professional.
We gathered reliably that Akin Adejuwon is a fine artist, and also a head of a performing arts agency when there is a national gallery of arts. And
that he infact teaches at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.
Mr Adaji, the sacked Artistic Director, is a play creation major from the University of Ibadan, and has held many artistic positions before his
National Troupe appointment in 2011. Mr Adaji would have served out his first term in June 2015, and was even looking forward to a renewal of his
appointment because of the giant strides he has reportedly recorded, before his hasty ouster by Duke on Thursday night. Akin, his successor has
not shown up for work since his appointment, and that only means that Duke bowed to the ‘external’ pressure. Adejuwon, is said to be the brain
behind the drafting of the Miribound Tourism master plan, being spear-headed by Edem Duke. Currently, there is confusion in the arts community,
and among staff of the National Troupe. Some of them who spoke to our reporter say they will resist the attempt by Duke to appoint a non
practitioner as head of the National Troupe.
They said the minister owes them an explanation as to why a serving DG will be removed without reason. They want the President to reverse the
decision, as the troupe is a specialized agency that does not need a crony as CEO. They also said they will protest this and other appointments
the minister has made in the last two weeks. Last week, the minister appointed his Special Assistant, who is alleged to be a former staff of his
tourism agency Ms Chika Balogun, as DG of National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Studies. He also appointed a 60 year old retired civil
servant Mrs Dayo Keshi, as DG of National Council for Arts and Culture. Mrs Keshi will be 68 by the time she serves out her tenure.
Efforts made by Society Reporters NG to reach the minister on phone proved abortive. His two lines have remained permanently switched off. But
an aide to the Minister said the appointment of Akin Adejuwon, is with immediate effect and that ‘even President Jonathan cannot reverse it, as
he is the one who authorized the removal of Mr Adajih’.
We promise to bring you more reports as soon as we lay our hands on more information.