(http://www.osundefender.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Ogbeni_Aregbesola.jpg)
The Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has frowned at the deficiency in the agricultural sector in the country, which he said had led the country to import food worth N600 billion every year inspite of the fertile land the country is blessed with.
Speaking in Osogbo, the state capital last Sunday, as the Special Guest of Honour during the 16th annual African Film Award 2011 of the African Voice Newspaper, the governor challenged the drama artists to use drama to motivate the youths to engage in farming with a view to ensuring massive food production across the country.
The governor said, "We have the best land in the world and farming is the legacy of black people and if we must succeed, we must go back to the farm", saying, "let us use drama to let our people know that it is an aberration for the people, whose colour is the same with that of the earth, to be importing food to the value of N600 billion every year".
"The implication is that should there be no oil today, what they witnessed in Somalia will be a child's play because we don't produce anything. We have several armies of unemployed youths, who must not allow the circumstances of our society to destroy them. Our drama must let them know that having acquired education, they must challenge themselves to live a productive live".
Besides, the governor also called on the artists to use their drama to boost the tourist potential of the state before the whole world, as well as acting as watchdog on the government of the day.
The governor, who noted that his administration would take tourism to a new height among its peers, called on those in the entertainment industry to be part of the new height and project the beautiful environment, tourist potentials and monuments of the state to the outside world through drama.
According to him, 63 tourist attractions and monuments have been discovered in Osun State and there are several others yet to be identified, while challenging the artists to add more value to their vocations through entertainment, information and education as projected in their various films.
Aregbesola further stated that there are so many intrigues, conspiracy and abuse of power by those in authority that should also be reflected in the films, saying that all these experiences should be captured with a view to correcting the wrongs.
Recalling his experiences, the governor said "many of you are aware of my political experience; how I won an election by popular support and my mandate was stolen and it took me close to four years before I reclaim it. My life was threatened, many people died, and this entire space called state was taken over by hoodlums".
"The DHL Chairman, Chief Ade Komolafe was killed in broad daylight and that act was carried out by Ibukun Fadipe, yet, he is still walking on the streets of Ilesa. We called the attention of Nigeria Police to it, he was never arrested. When our films captured these experiences, artists will also be acting as watchdog on the government of the day", he noted.
He then promised the support of his administration to the film industry in its quest to right the wrongs in all human endeavours in the country.
Osun Defender