By Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman
Sequel to the public outcries on the films that portrayed transvestites and hoodlums suspected to promote deviant behaviors among the youths in the state, the Executive Secretary (ES) of Kano State Censorship Board, Abba El-Mustapha, has on Wednesday banned all the films that portrayed hoodlums and transvestites in the state.
This was disclosed to the pressmen by the ES in his office shortly after a meeting with the Board’s management and some Kannywood stakeholders including representatives from MOPPAN, AREWA FILMS MAKERS, DIRECTORS, and FILMS PRODUCERS that aimed at addressing the productions of films suspecting to promote crimes and deviant behaviors among youths.
Abba stated that it is high time to fish out any film that may demoralize our customs, norms, and values in the name of reaching popularity, viewers, or business making.
El-Mustapha has explained that the Board has the power to ban, suspend, or prohibit the productions, distributions, sales, or exhibitions of any films, pornographic books, or publications in the state, where in the codes of the Board and the public interest it is offensive to public morality and decency.
He further explained that the Board also has the power to screen or censor any films, obscene books, and literature before releasing them to the general public for exhibition.
He, therefore, thanks all the Kannywood stakeholders for their sustainable support and cooperation with the Board.
The ES also urged the general public to provide relevant information to the Board on any films or publications they believe are not under the law, towards the actualization of the set goals.
He, however, reiterated to be inclusive and maintained an open door for further classified information and suggestions.
Finally, he gives a 1-month deadline to all productions that have the contents of hoodlums and transvestites.
