The Lagos State
Government on Tuesday refuted reports that it was planning to replace the
statues of late Chief MKO Abiola and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi at the Ojota
parks with another monument.
Acting
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinshola, while
reacting to a media report that the State was planning to replace the statues,
said the ongoing remodeling of both parks was to accommodate bigger sculptures
of the two prominent Nigerians.
According to
her, “Rather than replace the two conspicuous monuments, the Ministry of
Tourism, Arts and Culture with the approval of His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State, commissioned group of artistes to remodel
the entire park and erect a new but bigger, better and more aesthetic sculpture
of the two prominent Nigerians for better appreciation of their contribution to
the development of Nigeria”.
She said the
Government was already set to complete the remodeling of Late Chief Moshood
Kashimawo Abiola Garden at Ojota with a new statue and water fountain to
enhance the aesthetic value of the park for better appreciation by visitors and
enhancement of the June 12 presidential election narrative.
The Acting
Commissioner said the remodeling work on Chief MKO Abiola statue commenced late
January 2017 and was presently about 70 percent completed.
She said the
project also includes additional facilities such as a water fountain and a
designated mini park, adding that the Chief Gani Fawehinmi sculpture also at
Ojota was about 60 percent completed, while the park was being enhanced with
another work of art called “The Possibility”.
Akinsola
reiterated the resolve of Governor Ambode’s administration to change the face
of Lagos with the ongoing erection of 29 artistic sculptures and monuments at
strategic locations across the State.
She said
while many of the new world class creative monuments are at advance stages of
completion, six of them completed and officially unveiled including the statues
of the first settler in Lagos, Prince Olofin (erected at Ijora); the first King
of Lagos, Prince Ado (erected at Moloney Junction, Lagos); Ojuloge (erected
opposite the National Theatre), which celebrates and conveys the sense of
beauty, grace, style and passion for fashion of Lagos Women.
She listed other completed monuments including
The Drummer (erected at Ipakodo, Ikorodu), which depicts the Yoruba music
culture, Youth Empowerment (erected at Sabo Yaba), which depicts situations and
resources the youths deploy to improve quality of life as well as The Fisherman
(erected at Badagry junction) which depicts one of the occupations and heritage
of the people of Badagry.
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