Ex-GM’s claims of revitalising National Theatre false, misleading, Group alleges

By Sunday Ani

A group, Concerned Stakeholders of the National Theatre has debunked claims by the outgone General Manager of the agency, Prof Sunday Ododo, that he bequeathed a revitalised parastatal to Nigerians, describing the claims as false and misleading.
Ododo, in his farewell speech, claimed to have revitalised and injected fresh perspectives and growth into the parastatal.
He also claimed to have established an unparalleled industrial harmony within the institution, which allowed the staff to contribute to the vibrancy of the nation’s cultural heritage and output.
Debunking the claims, spokesman of the group, Lekan Ayinde, alleged that the former GM truly left a fresh perspective of workers’ intimidation and arrest of the Executive Chairman and Secretary of RATTAWU and the running of the affairs of the edifice as a sole proprietorship.
In the 45-year history of the artistic edifice, he noted that no General Manager has ever arrested, persecuted or intimidated any worker, using the police, or detained union leaders at the police station.
He, however, regretted that incident happened under Ododo’s leadership as the chairman and secretary of RATTAWU, National Theatre chapter, were arrested and detained on the orders of the former GM, who petitioned the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy complaining about the unhealthy work environment at the parastatal, and calling for the suspension of the erstwhile GM.
He said: “Truly, Prof Sunday Ododo has recorded many firsts during his tenure as the GM of the National Theatre. But, this was in the negative. While the Federal Government is looking for a way to source for fund to finance capital projects, massive looting of funds and artefacts are being perpetrated at the National Theatre.
“These facts are established by series of petitions before the ICPC and DSS against the former GM. The Auditor-General’s report is another lead to unravelling the financial puzzle the edifice was thrown into.
“So, claiming to be an architect of a revitalised National Theatre was a misnomer because he wasn’t a party to the signing of the rehabilitation, neither was he a signatory to all the transactions that led to the reconstruction works.
“He instead, benefitted from the deal through the disposal of movable items, and only paid paltry sum to the TSA. He has no hands in the FG’s plan to revitalise and rehabilitate the National Theatre. The deal was between the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Government.”
Ayinde called on the ICPC, DSS and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy under the leadership of Hannatu Musawa to investigate all the allegations levelled against the former GM with a view to unravelling the truth.