Emeka Anokwuru
The Director General of the National Council for Art and Culture(NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe has stated that his current travails is linked to his desire to protect and defend government property owned by the National Council for Art and Culture. He disclosed that the property, the Art and Craft Village (opposite Abuja Sheraton hotel) valued at N9.8billion is the reason why some people want him jailed and removed from office because he refused to dance to their tunes. Runsewe further revealed that the government property was turned into a drug den, a holding bay and rented house for hooligans and criminals, a depot for illegal arms and sundry criminal activities, which turned the place to a security threat not only to Abuja residents but also to foreigners who engage in early hour exercises through the streets in the morning and were molested by criminals from this location. “So, I wonder why, some people are bent on converting governmnet property to a haven of inappropriate engagement, hence, the police has 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,” he explained. Runsewe therefore noted that it is imperative to clear the air on this issue to help stem the tide of negative reactions and to reassure Nigerians that all hands must be on deck to protect the interest of any property that belongs to Nigeria and ensure that they are not misused or abused. He thanked all those who have shown interest about his welfare through phone calls, messages and visits, adding that his life is in the hand of God and that he will do his best within the ambits of law to secure and protect Nigerian cultural assets including those outside the shores of Nigeria.