The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, has lamented the deplorable condition of the cultural centre in the state, just as he said his ministry has no single camera to work with.
He described the condition of the ministry as pathetic, disturbing, and disappointing.
The new commissioner who went round the agencies under the ministry on assumption of office on Monday, said the state printing press was still using old technology which was last operated over twenty years ago.
Olatunbosun who reeled out his modern programmes to drive information in the state and reverse the deplorable state, however, said he was very happy that the governor of the state had people with latest experience in all the sectors of economy in his cabinet.
“We have toured round the agencies in our ministry but I can tell you that the condition is pathetic, disturbing, and disappointing. Nothing on ground to work with. As big as this ministry is, there is no single camera to work with. We have editing and television studios but there is nothing in those places. I was told that politicians went with some of the equipment they used during the 2015 general elections.
“As I am talking to you, the commissioner does not have an official vehicle. On our cultural section, I can tell you that our cultural centre which is the hub of the culture department is in dilapidated condition, in fact, it is a death trap. It was neglected for the past ten years.
“I think it is a deliberate attempt to neglect our culture. This kind of edifice (cultural centre) is in three locations in Nigeria. While other state governments are managing their own, the Oyo State government neglected its own for many years.
“They used to have two generating set in that place before now but politicians took the two away in a single day. They claim that government wanted to use it and up till today, they didn’t return it. After that, we went to the state press centre, but do you know that they are still using Lord Lugard technology. The last time they printed in our press was four years ago. But we will resuscitate the ministry,” he said.
On what to do to improve the ministry, he said he had a blue print to reposition the ministry, adding that he would ensure the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the people.