HON. KASUNMU BLASTS PRODUCER OF ABIBATU MOGAJI STAGE PLAY FOR OMITTING KEY PARTS OF HISTORY

The Deputy Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu (ARK) on Sunday evening called out the producers of a stage play written on his late grandmother, Alhaji Abibatu Mogaji.

The play, entitled: ABIBATU MOGAJI: MOTHERHOOD, LEGACY, RESILIENCE was first performed about a fortnight ago at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other dignitaries in attendance.

However, when the Lagos edition of the performance came up 14th July 2024 at the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, it was a different ball game as the producers came under intense scrutiny by Hon. Kasunmu.

In his remarks at the event, a visibly angry Hon. Kasunmu pointed out a number of flaws and omissions in the literary work.

For instance, he questioned the rationale behind writing a story about Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji without mentioning key family personalities like Alhaji Femi Okunu, Alhaja Fehintola Muri-Okunola and many others.

Hon. Kasunmu also sought to know why his own mother, late Mrs Arafat Abiodun Kasunmu, and her late younger sister, Module Ishola were completely omitted from the storyline. He also expressed surprise that his name and filial message was no where to be found on the program booklet.

Waxing philosophical, the Deputy Majority Leader said, “you cannot edit me out of my History, You can also not erase my Biological lineage”.

While thanking the writers for recognizing the contributions of his late grandmother to the development of Nigeria and humanity in general, Hon. Kasunmu advised the producers to go back to their drawing boards and do better job by consulting wider.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Mrs Folasade Tinubu Ojo as well as other dignitaries graced the occasion.

The Play was written by veteran Playwright, Prof. Ahmed Yerima and produced by Ola Awakan of ARTWAX communications.

Below is the full text of Hon. Kasunmu’s remarks at the event;

“PROTOCOLS
As much as I want to commend you for the project, I can’t but stand here and not point out some of your flaws.

You can’t speak about the life and times of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji without reference to some particular set of people. Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Alhaja Muri Okunola and many others, according to her principle of “Ki Elebi o debi e mu, e wo Omo Egbon, E wo Omo Aburo.

Furthermore, You cannot EDIT ME out of MY HISTORY
You cannot ERASE my Biological lineage.

My Late Mother’s Picture, Late Chief Abiodun Kasunmu’s Name was never mentioned in your programme details, Nor my picture used in your
programme , the Late Dupe Ishola, My Late Auntie was not mentioned, My Final Messages were not included. This is unacceptable because I’m also Mama’s Bonafide Grandson as much as she was known to be a Great Iya Gbogbo. I know you have included my sister, the Current Iyaloja General of Lagos, Chief Mrs Folasade Tinubu Ojo and Mr Oluwaseyi Tinubu but next time you exclude me, 100 strokes await you.

I came here to fulfill the uniqueness of Bloodline I share with Alhaja Abibat Ashabi Mogaji. Not once was my name mentioned. Well, I EXIST, And I will for a long time.

As much as this play is Centred around the Market Leadership roles that she played, Your Story is not complete without the INCLUSION of MY HERITAGE or LINEAGE during her LIFE & TIMES.

You may want to rely on the fact that you tried to reach me only two months before you had already concluded your planning after a forced reach out to me through the intervention of Dr Ade Tinubu but this I see here today should have happened a better way than this obvious lucana you seemed to have created. Because I’m asking myself, Am I just a Guest at My Grandmother’s Re-enactment or Playwright.

In conclusion, I congratulate you Ola Awakan for Identifying, Capturing, Re-enacting the Exceptional Life of My Late Grandmother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji as depicted professionally and profoundly through this stage play.

I thank you all for celebrating history today.

Your Excellency in absential, Mr Governor, I thank you for responding swiftly to the letter I wrote to you in 2023 when Mama Demise was fondly remembered on 10th Year Anniversary to immortalize her memory. A dupe sir.

God bless the memory of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji

God bless Nigeria

God bless Lagos State
LONG LIVE THE MOGAJI DYNASTY

The producer, Ola Awakan apologized to Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu for the observed omissions and promised to correct the error.