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Following the intervention of the senior special assistant (SSA) to the governor on tourism, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, an earlier planned street protest by Bayelsa-based musical artistes over alleged non-inclusion at the state sponsored official annual thanksgiving day event has been called off.
Bayelsa performing artistes, under the auspices of the Ijaw Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (IGMAN), led by Pastor Money Jacob, the Federation of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria (FOGMMON), led by Madam Blessing Okusiriki and a renowned Bayelsa indigenous gospel artiste, Pastor (Elder) Bannerman Embiowei, had frowned at what they described as exclusion and non-patronage from the state government during the 2021 edition of the State Annual Thanksgiving Day event in Yenagoa which held November 2.
The senior special assistant to the governor on Tourism, Mr Kiyaramo, in roundtable talks with the representatives of the aggrieved groups in his office, said music has been one of the great ways of promoting tourism all across the globe, owing to the fact that in most instances, music helps in displaying the beauty and elegance of a city at its best.
He appealed to the aggrieved artistes to sheath their sword and come to roundtable discussions with relevant authorities to resolve the issues, rather than embarking on street protest which may send wrong signals to the public, reiterating that music is a great channel of promoting cultural heritage.
The governor’s aide who described the state annual thanksgiving day as a flagship cultural tourism event, said music also helps to create connection with target audience in unique ways, in that it affects a wider audience than most other forms of artistic expressions, competing for attention.
Bayelsa State chapter governor of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Prince Perez Ogbogbo, commended the artistes in the state for their peaceful conduct during the Thanksgiving even called on them to engage the state government in a peaceful dialogue to resolve the issue.
Prince Ogbogbo appealed to the governor, Senator Douye Diri to partner with PMAN for the empowerment and development of local artistes in the state, while thanking the SSA to the governor on tourism for intervening in the matter, assuring that the local artistes were ready to contribute to the development of tourism and the local economy, informing that there are abundant talents in the state.
Renowned Bayelsa indigenous gospel artiste, Pastor (Elder) Bannerman Embiowei, while commending the senior special assistant to the governor on tourism for his quick intervention in the matter, said they were ready to call off the planned street protest and continue with the roundtable discussions with the relevant authorities.
The president of the Ijaw Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (IGMAN) Pastor Money Jacob, assured the SSA of his organisation’s willingness to continue with the roundtable discussions to amicably resolve the matter, adding that the local artistes were worried over their exclusion at state events.
Also speaking, Mr Charles Kuroteizi lamented that the non patronage of local artistes by government has discouraged many upcoming artistes in the state, just as he appealed to the governor to look in the direction of the performing local artistes for the purpose of holistic socio-economic development and inclusive growth.