{"id":124697,"date":"2025-12-30T19:55:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=124697"},"modified":"2025-12-30T19:55:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:55:48","slug":"nantap-demands-prosecution-of-thugs-for-manhandling-pedro-obaseki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/nantap-demands-prosecution-of-thugs-for-manhandling-pedro-obaseki\/","title":{"rendered":"NANTAP Demands Prosecution of Thugs for Manhandling Pedro Obaseki"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Nigerian Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has strongly condemned the alleged humiliation and inhuman treatment of Don Pedro Obaseki, a renowned cultural worker, intellectual, and politician, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Obaseki is a veteran cultural practitioner widely respected for his contributions to Nigeria\u2019s theatre and arts industry. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in promoting cultural awareness, mentoring emerging artists, and advocating for the preservation and advancement of Nigerian creative heritage. He is also known for his active engagement in public service and politics, which has elevated his profile as a prominent figure in both the creative and civic spheres.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recent incident reportedly involved alleged public humiliation and inhuman treatment under circumstances that remain unclear, sparking outrage among theatre arts practitioners, human rights advocates, and civil society groups.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The association\u2019s position was contained in a press statement signed by its National President, Adeniran Makinde, fta, in which NANTAP described the alleged act as a gross violation of human dignity and a disturbing abuse of power. According to the association, the treatment allegedly meted out to Obaseki runs contrary to the principles of civility, justice, and respect that should define a democratic society.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNo individual, regardless of circumstance or status, deserves to be subjected to public humiliation, physical or psychological abuse, or any form of treatment that strips them of their humanity,\u201d the statement read.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NANTAP noted that Obaseki represents far more than an individual, describing him as a symbol of Nigeria\u2019s creative and intellectual community, having devoted decades of his life to the promotion of culture, arts, and national development.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAn attack on his dignity is an attack on the entire cultural sector and on the conscience of the nation,\u201d the association stated, stressing that such actions, if left unchecked, undermine the moral foundation of society.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The association therefore demanded an immediate, transparent, and comprehensive investigation by the appropriate authorities, insisting that all those found culpable, whether directly or indirectly involved, must be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNANTAP demands full accountability from any institution or agency found to be complicit in this alleged inhuman act,\u201d the statement said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThere must also be concrete assurances that such conduct will not be tolerated or repeated against any Nigerian citizen.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emphasising Nigeria\u2019s status as a constitutional democracy, the association insisted that the rule of law must be upheld at all times, warning against the normalisation of intimidation, humiliation, and lawlessness.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNigeria must not become a society where abuse of power is excused and human dignity is expendable,\u201d the association warned. \u201cThe rule of law must prevail over impunity, and justice must never be selective.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NANTAP also expressed solidarity with Obaseki, his family, colleagues, and all advocates of human rights, dignity, and freedom of expression, urging government authorities, civil society organisations, the creative community, and well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against injustice.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAn injury to one is an injury to all,\u201d the association concluded.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Tracy Moses The Nigerian Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) has strongly condemned the alleged humiliation and inhuman treatment of Don Pedro Obaseki, a renowned cultural worker, intellectual, and&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":124698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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