LAGOS – The Nigerian Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has issued a blistering condemnation following the reported humiliation and “inhuman treatment” of renowned film maker and politician, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki.
In a press statement signed by National President of NANTAP Adeniran Makinde, the association described the incident as a “gross violation of human dignity” and a “shameful abuse of power” that threatens the values of a civil society.
NANTAP emphasized that the mistreatment of Dr. Obaseki—a Fellow of Theatre Arts (fta) and a prominent intellectual—is not merely a personal attack, but an assault on Nigeria’s entire creative and intellectual sector.
”An attack on his dignity is an attack on the entire cultural sector and the nation’s conscience,” the statement read. “No individual deserves to be subjected to public humiliation or treatment that strips them of their humanity.”
The association has laid out a clear path for justice, calling on the federal government and law enforcement to ensure the rule of law prevails over impunity. Their demands include:
• Thorough Investigation: An immediate and transparent probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
• Prosecution: The identification and trial of all perpetrators to the full extent of the law.
• Institutional Accountability: Public accountability from any agencies or institutions found to be complicit.
• Constitutional Adherence: A strict commitment to democratic values, ensuring such “barbaric conduct” is never repeated against any citizen.
• Ending Lawlessness: A firm rejection of the normalization of intimidation and selective justice in Nigeria.
Reiterating the mantra “an injury to one is an injury to all,” NANTAP expressed its full support for Dr. Obaseki, his family, and advocates of human rights. The association urged the creative community and civil society groups to speak out against the injustice to ensure that Nigeria remains a nation governed by law rather than fear.
