Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha on Thursday in Abuja expressed concerns over the effects of western culture on the society.
Okorocha who was the guest speaker at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Quarterly Public Lecture entitled: ‘Promoting Culture, Developing the Economy,’ said relegating our culture and embracing that culture is a problem.’
“People that go outside their culture have automatically lost their identity. The removal of our culture is a colossal damage done to us by our colonial masters.
“Culture is a way of life of people. Their food, language, dressing all contributes to give them an identity.
“We can fight corruption culturally in the sense that politicians should be made to swear with a deity into office. These deities don’t have mercy on anyone once you go contrary to its standard.
“The Bible and Koran are too merciful. That is why some of us do things without conscience knowing that God is merciful and forgiving.”
He said that culture and economy were intertwined in so many ways, so separating them would cause harm than good.
“Countries like China, Japan and India have made great impact with culture and tourism. They use their language to teach all the subjects in schools,” Okorocha said.
He called on stakeholders in the education sector to introduce culture studies into the school curriculum.
Also, Mr Mathew Urhoghide, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism said that some of Nigeria’s woes were traceable to non-recognition of the impact and effect of culture.
“Culture is an enabler and driver of sustainable economic development. It is unfortunate that we are not emulating other countries which have taken the advantage in creative industry.
“There is need for the stakeholders to reposition and make the sector relevant in the scheme of things to enable it generate substantial revenue into the country.
“The committee is committed to the government’s effort to diversify the economy with the special focus on culture and tourism sector,” Urhoghide said.
Earlier, Prof. Barclays Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary NICO said the organisation will not relent in its efforts in bringing the cultural endowment of the country to limelight with the support of other stakeholders. (NAN)
To Cash: ignorance tends to blur reality of meaning sometimes. Very much so in your case. What the governor said was that the application of cultural values such as swearing by ancestral deities has more authentic impact on people than our ‘imported’ religious values. On a superficial level, not many people would want to swear by Sango or Ogun, not even Mammy-water, without thinking about the consequences of a breach. The fact that people take swearing by the Bible or the Koran as a ‘matter of formality’ without ‘dire consequences, except the ‘after-life’ which only the traitor and Almighty will know, the evil-doer still flaunt their ‘stock-in-trade’ of wider corrupt practices. In short, the governor proffers ‘alternative’ approach to desensitise public servants and the entire Nigerians towards contemplating further corruption and malpractices. How does this relate to ‘mechanical inventions’?
“That is a nonsensical piece of nonsense,” governor. You are beginning to sound like those Biko Haram (Boko Haram) terrorists…”that culture.”
What is it about western culture that you so much dislike? Did you just wake up today and realized the level of corruption in Nigeria? From numerous accounts, you are swimming in it. Again, “what is it about western culture that you do not like?
Is it their banking system where you have been rumored to hide your state-gotten stash? Is it the myriad and numerous cell phones you have? How about the constellation of vehicles that you and your aids drive? And et cetera, et cetera, and et cetera.
If you really wanted to highlight the influence and effects of certain western culture in our society…then do it and then tell us what “you” or someone like you can do to alleviate the situation.
But remember governor, the task that you are asking others to tackle can only be tackled by people like you…political leaders (governors).
Cash Ezimako