OPCI President seeks censorship of films to curb spate of ritual killings
By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The National President of the Oodua Progressive Care Initiative (OPCI), Dr. Maruf Olanrewaju, has implored the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, direct the appropriate government agency to always censor films being churned out for viewers by Nollywood actors, actresses and others so as to curb rising cases of killings for money rituals in the country, particularly among the youths.
Olanrewaju, who made the call while fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on the sideline of the National Convention of the OPCI, lamented that the youths who engage in money rituals nowadays learn and copy the dastardly and ungodly practice from uncensored films they watch without any restraint.
To the OPCI boss, the politicians also have a large share of the blame on this growing atrocity in the country, alleging that some of them are neck deep in this nefarious act in order to get powers and positions, while most of them arrogantly flaunt their wealth amid ravaging poverty and unemployment in the country.
He said: “On killing of innocent persons for money rituals which has become so rampant in recent time, I blame the film makers and politicians for the surge of the menace. Our politicians, for instance, whenever they are celebrating one ceremony or the other, are fond of spending lavishly, while posting same on social media, aside driving expensive cars thereby tempting desperate individuals on the street to also want to live a similar life. Since they don’t have that kind of work that can give them such money, they see money rituals as the means to an end.
“Theatre arts practitioners, film makers and others in that category are also part of the people promoting this atrocity we are talking of as they contribute a lot negatively through what they market and people watch. They think they are entertaining and educating the people through their films, not knowing that with their kind of films they are promoting money rituals. For instance, films showing a person becoming suddenly rich via rituals thereby becoming a celebrity in the society, can obviously make some unconscionable people to fall into that trap.
“The way out, I believe, is censorship of films we make, produce and watch in our society. Proper home training for the young ones is also germane because charity begins at home, so each parent should intensify efforts in proper upbringing of their children by censoring films they watch and letting them to know the consequences of embarking on such suicidal trip.”
On the deteriorating insecurity, Olanrewaju lambasted the three tiers of government, particularly the federal government, for treating the matter with levity as Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers ravage the country with impunity, wondering what has become of the humongous security votes the president, governors and local government chairmen collect monthly without anything meaningful to show for it, security wise and implored the government at the three tiers to engage the services of organisations with over 500,000 members like the OPCI in combating insecurity in the country
He said: “Any government that cannot secure its citizenry is not government and their political leaders should be disbanded and replaced. It is sad that those at the helms of affairs in this country are treating the important issue of security with levity and not justifying the humongous security votes they collect every month.”
On 2023 elections, he admonished the electorate to shun money politics and vote according to their conscience for the right people in order not to suffer again for another four years.
Highlights of the Convention included Awards of Excellence to seven personalities for their invaluable contributions to humanity in their immediate communities