Following the controversial proposed peace and unity concert scheduled to
hold in the state, which has spurred various comments from the entertainment community in Plateau State condemning the concert. Decipher, a poet and social commentator in the state has written an open letter to address the issue.
Dear Alert Governor
It is sad to see that you have surrounded yourself with people who are bereft of ideas, yes men, and praise singers bent on milking what they can from the state’s coffers.
There are creative’s on the plateau who have sacrificed artistically towards the socio-cultural development of the state, why ignore them; insult them by bringing in people with questionable values as anchors and performers. We must express our deepest displeasure. It seems as though you are merely canvassing for cheap popularity at the expense of your family members (people)
These outsiders who know little or nothing about the Plateau peace and unity struggles and how we as residents and artistes daily perfect our art and speak on behalf of the State will come and take away our glory our money (duly taxed) and in return leave behind Jennifers English, Derele’s conflicting personality values and comical ridiculousness, (to mention a few) for us the residents to mop up? to correct? How long will it take to re-teach our children that these untoward values which will be imported under the guise of the Plateau Peace and Unity Concert are retrogressive and not in line with the forward looking Plateau Spirit.
Dear Alert Governor, we are deeply saddened, this is a back stab, a betrayal of the faith we entrusted in you. Our beloved Plateau has always been known for quality Art, for classical performance and the highest of creative repute internationally. It is a pity that this proposed Plateau peace and unity concert reduces us to ‘ground zero.’
For the same amount or less with which the Plateau peace and unity concert is budgeted, all seventeen local governments (not just the Jos North L.G.A) in the state (as the name suggests) can be covered, making use of over 300 indigenous taxpaying artistes resident in the state and familiar with her peace and unity dealings. In this way we can develop our own local artistic professionals, and in the process whatever is paid to these local creative artists will be spent in the state, spent in the socio-cultural sectors which as you claim is one of your policy thrusts.
After much persuasion and out of the kindness of the Jos Spirit in him, and at little or no cost, we have coming to Jos on the 27th of August, the Sunday after your ‘Concert’ for a book reading and educational discourse, a renowned writer NLNG 100,000 dollar, prize for literature, internationally acknowledged, winner of the 2016 who is a product of the University of Jos. This is one of the ways we keep the peace and promote the intellectual soundness of the Plateau people as opposed to some of the actors on the PPUC. Tell me Mr. Alert governor, who should be celebrated, our writer or … you know who?
We know that we might not be able to change your mind, we realise that it is possible that you have been ill advised. No wahala, but since it is a democracy we just want to officially express our utmost displeasure! There is so much to say but I must stop here.
N.B: my honest opinion, that is one otherwise poster I have seen in a while… and your very handsome picture is on it. well, irony of our lives.
Your sad Jos Little Brother
Decipher