Olusegun Runsewe,
director-general of the National Council of Art and Crafts (NCAC), says people
want him behind bars because he refused to fail in his duties as a public
officer and government appointee.
On Thursday, a federal high court
in Abuja ordered that Runsewe should be sent to prison for contempt of the
order of court made on December 15, 2017.
This was based on a suit filed by
Ummakalif Ltd against the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA);
Runsewe; and Lai Mohammed, minister for culture and tourism, who served as the
1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.
In 2017, an FCT high court had
restrained the NCAC from demolishing and evicting traders from the Abuja Arts
and Crafts Village.
Despite the order, the village
was closed by the police, who said they would only reopen on the orders of the
NCAC director-general.
Reacting to the judgement of
Friday, the NCAC boss said the village had become a den of robbers and illicit
drug sale, hence its closure.
He said the village, valued at
N9.8 billion, was serving as a “security
threat not only to Abuja residents but also to foreigners who engage in early
hours exercises.”
“The Art and Craft village
(Opposite Abuja Sheraton Hotels) valued at N9.8 billion is the reason behind
why some people wanted me hounded into jail and removed from office because I
refused to dance to their tunes,” he said.
Runsewe thanked his well-wishers
who had shown support since the judgement was made, adding that his life “is in
the hand of God.”
He said he would continue to
protect Nigerian cultural assets within the country and beyond.
“I will do my best within the
ambit of the law to secure and protect Nigerian cultural assets including those
outside the shores of Nigeria”, he said.
“The Art and Craft village was
turned into a drug den, a holdbay and rented house for hooligans and criminals.
The area had been turned to a depot for illegal arms and sundry criminal
activities.
“It is a security threat not only
to Abuja residents but also to foreigners who engage in early hours exercises
through the street in the morning. They were molested by criminals from this
location.
“So I wonder why some people are
bent on converting government property to a haven of inappropriate engagement.
Hence, the police had to close down the place.
“The Art and Craft Village
belongs to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It does not belong to me but to the
Nigerian people. So I would be failing in my duties as a public officer and
appointee of government if I cannot protect government property to which I was
mandated to oversee. If the area opens for business, it will provide over 300
jobs to Nigerians and reduce crime rate.”
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