Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Olusegun Runsewe, has said the Federal Government is geared towards ensuring the country’s badly damaged national unity and peaceful coexistence is fixed.
Runsewe called on traditional rulers across the country to build synergy and collaborate with government through the NCAC towards ensuring the success of fixing the damaged unity through cultural revival.
Runsewe said part of the government’s efforts is the revival of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).
Speaking yesterday, in Abuja, during the flag-off of NAFEST 2019, Runsewe noted that hate speech is on the rise in the country, including allied crimes, arising from the loss of cultural values.
He blamed the progressive deterioration of values over the years as partly responsible for the crisis of national unity and underdevelopment the country is currently facing.
Runsewe, however, said in rebuilding national unity and cohesion, the NCAC took a decision to put together, NAFEST 2019 as a way of reflecting the policy of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation, which were the cardinal points of the founding fathers of NAFEST in 1970.
“It is our conviction that the progressive deterioration of these values over the years is partly responsible for the crisis of national unity and underdevelopment our nation is currently facing.
“I wish to humbly call on all traditional rulers in Nigeria to collaborate with the National Council for Arts and Culture, in the task of reviving our cherished cultural heritage and using our culture as a spring board for driving the process of national development,” Runsewe said.
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, said Edo State has finalised plans for the fruitful hosting of the event. He said as far as the state is concerned, security threats will mar the event.
Osemwegie-Ero said the state government had put all factors on the table, and is doing everything possible to ensure a successful outing.