Read Edem Duke's fraudulent ways to sell National Theatre !
Help Edem Duke destroys Nigeria Tourism Sector
On tour to sell national Theatre
Sacks Artistic Director for opposing bid to sell National Theatre
After incessant denials by the authorities involved, fresh facts are emerging on how the Minister of Culture Tourism and National Orientations, Chief Edem Duke, and his cohorts are allegedly scheming to sell the national monument, National Arts Theatre, to private hands. According to information made available to this magazine, all arrangements have been made, sealed, signed and delivered to cede the National Theatre under the guise of private partnership. Our reliable source told us that the grand design to sell National Arts Theatre, may not be unconnected to the inordinate ambition of the expected buyers of the theatre to turn the area into an hospitality haven, which the Culture Minister is well-rooted in. Of course, everyone knows that Chief Edem Duke is the owner of Mirage Hotels, in Calabar, South-South geographical zone of Nigeria. As it is now, the ministry may just be perfecting all documents to sell off the National Theatre. The National Theatre is one monument that was built in 1977 by Bulgarians to commemorate the Festival of Arts and Black Culture, (FESTAC 77), and it remains a reference point for lovers of Arts and Culture. Sources at the Culture and Tourism ministry however pointed out that the deal being worked out may not reflect the true situation of the deal. According to the source, the deal to hand off the theatre to a private company would be viewed as a partnership that will improve the infrastructure of the centre with massive development of the expansive land to build a five star hotel, and sundry recreational facilities. It is viewed that such arrangements would invariably kill the theatre. As at the time of going to the press, top staffers of the Culture and Tourism ministry were not ready to talk about the deal and all efforts to speak with the honourable minister, Chief Edem Duke proved abortive. Meanwhile, at the National Theatre in Lagos, its General Manager, Kabir Yusuf declined to comment, but was emphatic that the theatre is not for sale. Also, the Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Toyin Mohammed, refused to comment on the development, rather, he pointed out that whatever may happen is going to happen by way of partnership and not an outright sale of the theatre. He did not give details of the partnership as he referred this reporter to the ministry for further clarifications. If Chief Edem Duke is now being touted as one of the major movers of the deal to sell the theatre, the rest should remain in the imagination of many, and one can only wait for how the whole deal will materialize.
Why Edem Sacks National Troupe Artistic Director !
: Reports emerging from Abuja has revealed there are more to the removal of the former Artistic Director of the National Troupe Mr Martins Adaji. According to sources,Adaji was removed because he refused to be used in the ploy to sell National Theatre lands n the National Theatre itself to cronies by the Minister of Culture n Tourism,Edem Duke. It is reliably gathered that Edem Duke working hands in glove with the corrupt General Manager of the National Theatre,Kabiru Yusuf had directed that the National Troupe move from the theatre premises to an abandoned high rise building in Ikoyi but was resisted by Adaji and staff of the edifice. Citing the decree setting up the Troupe,the decree provided that the National Troupe must be resident in the theatre and therefore,the decree must first be amended before that could be done.
Also,Adaji is seen in the mould of a stumbling block in their nefarious plan.The President appeared to have been deceived into granting approval that may see the Theatre go into private hands soon.
No Road show in Lagos !
According to a letter in our possession and signed by Kabiru Yusuf,GM,National Theatre, a jamboree called "Road Show and Ground Breaking" had been planned for 8th to 24th Sept.,2014.In the document,the Minister,his Permanent Secretary,SA to the Minister,Management members,Union members in National Theatre are to embark on foreign trip to London,Dubai and South Africa allegedly to look for investors.This trip will gulp about 40 million naira alone in air fare while allowances will cost the tax payers another 20 million naira. On the date for lagos Road show on Monday 8th September,our Correspondent was at the National Theatre to observe the programme but nothing like that took place,a pointer to what will happen in other places. The most incredible part of this plot is the seeming cooperation of the Union leadership in the plot.It will be recalled that the Union in National Theatre with the support of the Artiste community has been at the vanguard of opposition to the sale or concession of the Theatre over the years.This new cooperation seems to be induced going by the response of the staff who spoke to us under annonymity. They condemned the action of their leaders saying they were not carried along. Majority of the staff claimed ignorance of the whole thing. The Chairman Governing Board of the National Theatre/Troupe, Chief Markus Ishaya, souces say is also kept in the dark about all these.
It is therefore that in an attempt that nothing stops their desperate moves and to keep this away from Nigerians that Martins Adaji,a man who has put in close to 35 years in the service and whose tenure expires next year March had to be sacrificed. Mallam Kabiru Yusuf who is behind all these is under various investigation for Corrupt practices but because he is a "good boy" he is kept in his post.
— with Gani Muhammed and 45 others.On tour to sell national Theatre
Sacks Artistic Director for opposing bid to sell National Theatre
After incessant denials by the authorities involved, fresh facts are emerging on how the Minister of Culture Tourism and National Orientations, Chief Edem Duke, and his cohorts are allegedly scheming to sell the national monument, National Arts Theatre, to private hands. According to information made available to this magazine, all arrangements have been made, sealed, signed and delivered to cede the National Theatre under the guise of private partnership. Our reliable source told us that the grand design to sell National Arts Theatre, may not be unconnected to the inordinate ambition of the expected buyers of the theatre to turn the area into an hospitality haven, which the Culture Minister is well-rooted in. Of course, everyone knows that Chief Edem Duke is the owner of Mirage Hotels, in Calabar, South-South geographical zone of Nigeria. As it is now, the ministry may just be perfecting all documents to sell off the National Theatre. The National Theatre is one monument that was built in 1977 by Bulgarians to commemorate the Festival of Arts and Black Culture, (FESTAC 77), and it remains a reference point for lovers of Arts and Culture. Sources at the Culture and Tourism ministry however pointed out that the deal being worked out may not reflect the true situation of the deal. According to the source, the deal to hand off the theatre to a private company would be viewed as a partnership that will improve the infrastructure of the centre with massive development of the expansive land to build a five star hotel, and sundry recreational facilities. It is viewed that such arrangements would invariably kill the theatre. As at the time of going to the press, top staffers of the Culture and Tourism ministry were not ready to talk about the deal and all efforts to speak with the honourable minister, Chief Edem Duke proved abortive. Meanwhile, at the National Theatre in Lagos, its General Manager, Kabir Yusuf declined to comment, but was emphatic that the theatre is not for sale. Also, the Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Toyin Mohammed, refused to comment on the development, rather, he pointed out that whatever may happen is going to happen by way of partnership and not an outright sale of the theatre. He did not give details of the partnership as he referred this reporter to the ministry for further clarifications. If Chief Edem Duke is now being touted as one of the major movers of the deal to sell the theatre, the rest should remain in the imagination of many, and one can only wait for how the whole deal will materialize.
Why Edem Sacks National Troupe Artistic Director !
: Reports emerging from Abuja has revealed there are more to the removal of the former Artistic Director of the National Troupe Mr Martins Adaji. According to sources,Adaji was removed because he refused to be used in the ploy to sell National Theatre lands n the National Theatre itself to cronies by the Minister of Culture n Tourism,Edem Duke. It is reliably gathered that Edem Duke working hands in glove with the corrupt General Manager of the National Theatre,Kabiru Yusuf had directed that the National Troupe move from the theatre premises to an abandoned high rise building in Ikoyi but was resisted by Adaji and staff of the edifice. Citing the decree setting up the Troupe,the decree provided that the National Troupe must be resident in the theatre and therefore,the decree must first be amended before that could be done.
Also,Adaji is seen in the mould of a stumbling block in their nefarious plan.The President appeared to have been deceived into granting approval that may see the Theatre go into private hands soon.
No Road show in Lagos !
According to a letter in our possession and signed by Kabiru Yusuf,GM,National Theatre, a jamboree called "Road Show and Ground Breaking" had been planned for 8th to 24th Sept.,2014.In the document,the Minister,his Permanent Secretary,SA to the Minister,Management members,Union members in National Theatre are to embark on foreign trip to London,Dubai and South Africa allegedly to look for investors.This trip will gulp about 40 million naira alone in air fare while allowances will cost the tax payers another 20 million naira. On the date for lagos Road show on Monday 8th September,our Correspondent was at the National Theatre to observe the programme but nothing like that took place,a pointer to what will happen in other places. The most incredible part of this plot is the seeming cooperation of the Union leadership in the plot.It will be recalled that the Union in National Theatre with the support of the Artiste community has been at the vanguard of opposition to the sale or concession of the Theatre over the years.This new cooperation seems to be induced going by the response of the staff who spoke to us under annonymity. They condemned the action of their leaders saying they were not carried along. Majority of the staff claimed ignorance of the whole thing. The Chairman Governing Board of the National Theatre/Troupe, Chief Markus Ishaya, souces say is also kept in the dark about all these.
It is therefore that in an attempt that nothing stops their desperate moves and to keep this away from Nigerians that Martins Adaji,a man who has put in close to 35 years in the service and whose tenure expires next year March had to be sacrificed. Mallam Kabiru Yusuf who is behind all these is under various investigation for Corrupt practices but because he is a "good boy" he is kept in his post.
