With series of satires and performances based on the need to move Nigeria ahead for more effective and concerted change, the National Troupe of Nigeria has moved to Abuja, the nation’s capital to preach the message of cultural and moral rebirth. The event tagged ‘I Love Nigeria’, took place on Valentine Day at the Unity Park, Abuja. Edozie Udeze reports
In its guest to continuously search for a better Nigerian society, the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) has devised a new pattern of dance drama to capture the heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Last weekend, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in what was termed “I Love Nigeria” the Troupe presented series of dances anchored on the unity and progress of Nigeria.
Held at the Unity Park, Abuja, the dances were done on Valentine day, to show love, true love, rooted in the heart of people can help to move Nigeria to the next level where ethnicity, religious bigotry, hatred, narrow-mindedness and political thuggery would soon be flushed out in the national psyche of the Nigeria society.
This was why the dances and dramas were performed essentially to touch on those terrible habits Nigerians display that have not encourage the society to prosper. All aspects of professional misconducts in the society were harped on, in which every body was asked to sit up to ensure that Nigeria is made a better place for all and sundry.
Thus doctors were cajoled to be upright in their treatment of patients. It was good remind them that the head condition of the vast majority of people lay in their hands. Therefore it behooves on them to use their sound professional ethics to give the people the best medical facilities ever. In it, Sobifa Dokubo who acted Nigeria was decked in the National colours of green-white-green, designed to represent the Niger Delta symbolic designs. Dokubo, a veteran of stage, used the opportunity to scold all professionals represented in the play to do the best for the total cohesion, progress and development of Nigeria.
Each profession has a duty, to perform to put the Nigerian society on the right track to stardom. Both doctors importers, farmers, teachers, civil servants, engineers, the youths, artisans, artists, owe it to the people to discharge their duties diligently for Nigeria to measure up with the rest of the world.
What will it profit a farmer when he uses fake and inferior fertilizers to produce crops, that will be harmful to millions of Nigerians? Most of the organically produced food crops pushed into the market pose serious health hazards to the people if all professionals adhered to safety of their professions; if they truly love the Nigeria society and its teeming people, then they will have the heart to commit less atrocities in order to save the people. No society ever gets it better when its engineers keep building substandard houses that collapse at the slightest whim. No government will be happy to see its engineers do roads that do not last longer before they begin to develop potholes. This was why the drama infused with heavy dances were quite appropriate to pass the message across to teeming crowd that gathered to watch the shows.
In their midst were soldiers, both serving and retired who saw in the plays renewed zeal to fight more to liberate to people for clutches of Boko Haram. Also present were top civil servants who were told to be more punctual to work and produce more to help the economy grow.
Civil servants who report to duty say by 10am and register 6.30 am where admonished to desist from the habit forthwith. In his fatherly artistic way, Dokubo intoned “ Oh, it is not good when you falsify your age to remain for ever in the service. It is not good when you habitually produce ghost workers in order to cheat the system; when you make people’s files to disappear at random. And then threaten to go on strike for salary increase for works you did not do diligently. For most part, the arena was silent; people were somewhat reflective and sober. The messages hit them hard on the head. The usual clapping and acclaim that accompany such satires and hilarious place did not happen. Nigerians were told the truth in a way that was new on them.
“Oh yes,” Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director of the Troupe said “it is to make the messages clearer to the people. Change has to be made concrete; people have to know what it is to make a meaningful change. It has to start from each and everyone of us. So, while the NOA uses speeches to do it, we use actions, performances, shows, plays, dances, songs, etc, to permeate the people. The beauty of artistic demonstrations or performance art is that its effect is instantaneous. You feel it as it is being released and you take the message home and chew on it. Most times, they message is addressing you in particular, noting those bad habits you have which you must shed to make progress. This is why we have adopted this method and I hope it is catching on fast.”
In a way the project is a continuation of the vow and promise Adejuwon made at the initial beginning to take the Troupe to all the crannies of the society. “Yes, we are taking the Troupe out of the National Theatre, Lagos to other places to let Nigerians feel the impact of the Troupe. The dances, the dramas, the songs, et al must reflect on the areas of the Nigerian problems in order for us to move on ahead.”
In his own speech, Mike Omeri of NOA reiterated the need for Nigerians to fall in love with what is their own. “On a day like this and even beyond, Nigerians need to show real love to one another. This show today is to remind us that love is in the air and it has to be a continuous habit. We need to overcome prejudices and ethnic problems in order to grow as a nation. What is right for the society is what we should do. Let us always remember to show love whether we here or somewhere else. For, to us, love is universal”
“In other words, let love be our armour. Today Nigerian soldiers have to be celebrated for having degraded Boko Haram. No territories are in the hands of Boko Haram today because our soldiers have been diligent. It is time therefore to dedicate today to them and ask them to do more for the good of nation,” Omeri said.
In her comment about the play, Josephine Igberease who conceived the show said, “On a search to reward true patriotic citizens in the season of love, Nigeria (a father figure) assembles all contestants from all works of life – From the teachers, to the doctors, engineers, farmers, artisans, youth groups, business tycoons, to mention but a few. Everybody gathers together in groups with the song of ‘I LOVE NGEIRA’ in their mouths, singing praises of themselves with pride. After all the merriment and boastfulness of individual group achievements, the story take a new turn when Mr. Nigeria announces no one is the winner. He goes further to show them the areas where they all fall short, and motivates them to change their ways if truly they love him, Nigeria. It is a story of CHANGE.