26a- A REVIEW by Tunde Aladese

Diana Evans’s book, ‘26a’, appears on the surface to be a story about the relationship between a pair of twins, Georgia and Bessi, the tale spreading out from the focus on them to deal with their entire family- a mixed race family with a British father, a Nigerian mother and four girls- Bel, Georgia, Bessi and Kemy.

The book explores the issue of dependent relationships, following the twins from a childhood of silent communication, as they coin their lifetime catchphrases –it’s good, eve- and share memories until they grow into womanhood and differences that can no longer be ignored. As they grow, the experiment with independence, only getting their toes wet, but it becomes more and more obvious that this freedom to fly is something only one of them wants, while the other dreads it. A slow acceptance of the need to find a life of one’s own leads to their abandonment of their dreams of a flapjack empire as they seek different paths suited to their personalities. How successful this separation ends up being, the reader can find out for his or herself.

The tension in the family is one of the first things the book introduces us to as the first consultation we find the twins having in the sacred land of their attic room is a discussion on whether their parents should get divorced or not. The marriage of their parents, in some ways, parallels the theme of relationships born of dependency. When the couple meets, they both feel like outsiders within the environment they find themselves in- their father Aubrey a fresh expatriate on assignment in Lagos, their mother Ida a runaway from Benin. Desperate for anything they can get, they cling to each other in their loneliness without really knowing each other and the result is inevitable as we find them years down the line barely tolerating each other, it comes as no surprise that their marriage grows into a situation of impatience, scorn and tension. The social and cultural differences between them grow more glaring by the day as Ida refuses to conform and Aubrey refuses to understand. Years later, Ida is still clinging to dreams of her youth as an anchor and talking to her absent mother. She has not made any successful attempts to try and integrate with the community she is living in, although towards the latter part of the book, she does begin to take some steps in that direction.

Although set for the most part in England, the book takes occasional forays into the world of Ida’s home country, Nigeria. It takes us on an interesting journey into Ida’s escape from home, revealing for the first time the youth and optimism behind the moody woman we first meet. Later in the book the entire family takes a trip home and I was unable to find the merit this visit added to the story. With the exception of giving the children a few scares, the three years the family spends in Nigeria seem to pass in a blur and they are back to England in no time. The pace and development of the story do not seem to have been greatly advanced by this interlude.

Diana Evans’s style of writing is explicit in its attention to the thoughts behind the actions of her characters and the regularity with which these thoughts are disjointed puts on them a stamp of reality. She parallels the emotional roller coaster of the family relationships with the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as a marriage captures the imagination of a nation and is constantly chronicled on TV, avidly watched by people, including the characters in the book. Exploring the emotions and reactions of the characters, even in the minds of the children, is a strong part of the book. You feel the palpable terror that lies in something as alarmingly basic as a drunken, angry parent.

I moved through the book quickly which in some ways was a bad thing because, in gaining momentum, I kept expecting to be taken somewhere but the book ended up in a place I could see it heading towards from about halfway through the book. Sometimes the book felt more like a collection of events in the lives of a family than a tale and it seemed like I was just waiting for the inevitable to happen and enjoying the quality of the writing on the way.

Review: 26a by Diana Evans - E. Sankore

26a, Diana Evans’ lyrical, enchanting first novel, tells the coming-of-age story of Bessi and Georgia, identical twins growing up in the North London suburb of Neasden and the story of their mixed race family – the mother, an Edo girl who runs away from home at 15 to escape an arranged marriage, the father, a Derbyshire accountant who runs to Lagos to escape an alienating childhood, an elder and younger sister.

The rich, fantastical tone of the novel is drawn from the twins’ exploration of individuality and identity and their efforts to make sense of themselves in the world. Twins- sacred, mystical beings in Nigerian myth and folklore- are revered and reviled, their birth raising questions about the nature of existence, identity and personhood. Evans taps into this rich cultural vein to provide her story with its haunting, magic-evoking rhythm. Bessi and Georgia understand the look in the eyes of their pet hamster when “feebly he poked at the plastic wheel in the corner, looking for motion, hoping for escape or clarity. And the explanations never came. It was deeper than needing to know what the wheel was for, where the cage had come from and how he’d got there, or in the twins’ case, the meaning of ‘expialidocious’ or why their father liked Val Doonican. It was more of a What is Val Doonican? And therefore, What am I? The question that preceded all others.”

In their loft bedroom – the “26a” Waifer Avenue of the title- the twins engage in their unique communion of “decision” making, “deciding” if their parents should get divorced, if they should become all Nigerian, making sense of the world beyond their joined/separate beings.

However, it was when the family moves to Nigeria, away from the apples, snow and Woolworths of Neasden that the twins start to draw into their separate selves. Georgia traumatized by her father’s cockroach-wrangling gateman in Nigeria keeps the experience from her twin, instinctively protecting her from the dark. “Bessi” Georgia says “is where bad things never happen.”

Back in Neasden, the twins grow into young adults in the same loft room on Waifer Avenue, apparently within the same external world but each now treading perceptibly different paths. It is North London in the 70s and 80s, a world of Michael Jackson concerts, electric blue fishtail skirts, Roy Ayers albums and leering Jamaican boys, lusting after their yellow skin. The twins move separately through this world, Bessi walking in light, Georgia clinging to the shadows.

The novel’s third and last bit is so keenly observed, so nuanced in detail, that it is not surprising to discover that the author was born a twin. Death reaches back into the twins’ lives for Georgia. “Georgia, who was born first, forty five minutes first, refused to breathe for seven minutes. And two and a half years later, still resentful she was rushed back to St. Luke’s Hospital….”

Nigerian myth and folklore provides a view of the world - a world shifting on itself, taking and losing form - that makes the novel work. It is therefore disappointing that in an otherwise finely observed and nuanced novel, Nigeria is sometimes tentatively drawn, without the sure hand and detail that enlivens the novel’s London.

But this is a minor quibble, 26a is a beautiful, wonderful book.

Literary Birthday Bash for NICON Luxury GM

The literary community in Abuja, on Thursday 26^th of June stood still for Mr Funsho Adeyelu, the general manager of the prestigious NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja. Though the event was meant to be the flag off of the Abuja chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors monthly reading and its FCT read campaign project but it turned into what could be described as a literary birthday bash for him as the day turns out to be his birthday.

The Minister of State I for Education, Dr. Jerry Anthony Agada who performed the flagging off ceremony set the ball rolling for the “birthday boy” as he presented to him on behalf of the chapter, a collection of carefully selected Nigerian books as his birthday gift and was mandated to read from one of the books. The excited celebrant, after displaying his book gift to the delight of the audience chose to read from Amos Tutuola’s ‘The Palmwine Drinkard.’ Before proceeding to read the book, he said. “My choice of this book is simply simple. The author of this book is in no way whom anyone can refer to as been educated; talk much of writing a book. This is evident in the raw use of the queen’s language. He did not in anyway allow himself to be deterred by his weakness-mastery of the English language. When I first come across this book, the first thing I did was to pick up my dictionary to look for the word ‘drinkard’ but did not find any such word” The hotelier, who no one who had no clue of being a book lover stunned the audience with his confidence and eloquence as he reads and even give commentaries and analysis of the book as he reads.

The GM who had during a courtesy visit to his office by the newly elected officers of the chapter expressed his establishment’s readiness to partner with the association; reiterated this commitment in the most subtle manner when he says “NICON Luxury Hotel is not all about hotel business. As a unique indigenous hospitality industry in West Africa, we are committed to shaping the hospitality culture of Abuja. Hence, our decision to partner with you because we believe we can add value to one another and to our society at large”

Other dignitaries who attended the reading turned birthday party include Professor Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar/CEO of JAMB, Hon. Dr. Wale Okediran, ANA National President, Yeye Dr. George of USIS, Professor Tunde Adeniran, a former Minister of Education and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany who was one of the writers on the rostrum for the month, Dr. Lizzy Ben-Iheanacho of the National Council for Arts & Culture, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, ANA General Secretary, Dr. Paul Dike, retired former DG of the National Gallery of Art and of course, the Minister of State 1 for Education, Dr. Jerry Agada amongst many others. A private school from Kubwa, Eco International was also in attendance.

Mr. Funsho Adeyelu, who obviously will cherish the surprise literary treat given to him by the association for a much longer time, reciprocates their kind gesture by hosting the writers to a cocktail after the reading where they were offered the best of meals, drinks and music available to help them relax and recharge.

Prince Jerry Adesewo, the chapters Public Relations Officer who spoke to our reporter on behalf of the chapter’s chairman, Dr. Seyi Adigun expresses satisfaction on the outcome of the flagging off ceremony, especially in terms of attendance. “We are very happy with the turn out recorded, especially the reception giving us here by the management of NICON Luxury which is what we try to reciprocate in our own way by dedication some time for him within the meeting to mark his birthday which incidentally falls on the same day as our reading. It will be our pleasure to see this fraternity continue for a long time. Most importantly, we can only wish that there are other organizations within and outside Abuja who would follow the footstep of NICON Luxury by supporting writer groups and literature development which will the impact positively on improving the reading habit and the development of our education standard” he concluded.

ANA ABUJA FLAGS OFF ITS MONTHLY READING IN STYLE

Two months after the Dr. Emman Usman Shehu was voted out as the chairman of Abuja Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors in favour of Dr. Seyi Adigun and his lieutenants, the chapter on Thursday 26^th of June at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja finally resumes its monthly reading, and did so in grand style after six moth of waiting.

The flag off the monthly reading and the chapter’s read campaign project was performed by the Honourable Minister of State for Education and National Vice President of the Association, Dr. Jerry Agada. “I am sure you are aware that I am the Chairman of the National Action Committee on Read Campaign. This makes me the most appropriate person to perform the function of flagging off this chapter’s reading session and their read project today and I shall do so with all pleasure. Improving the culture of reading is the responsibility of all of us and we must live up to that responsibility” he stated and went on to read an essay on the plight of teachers in Nigeria, from his collection of essays titled ‘Rage and Tears’ which according to him is quite prophetic because at the time, he was not a Minister. “Teachers deserve the best; I use to be a teacher so I know how it feels so we are doing all we can to ensure that the situation at hand is amicably resolved” he added.

In his remark as the special guests of honor at the event, Professor ‘Dibu Ojerinde, who read Christopher Okigbo’s ‘Ibeto’ from the West African Verse collection suggested that the read campaign should be taken to the rural area. He advised that whatever the association is doing, it should not restrict itself to the city center but to the rural areas. The Chief Executive of JAMB who was also the pioneer Registrar of NECO however commended some universities whom he claimed have contributed immensely to improving the reading culture by insisting that anyone who want to study law must pass literature. “Other courses should do the same. Literature should be made compulsory for courses like philosophy, sociology, mass communication and anthropology amongst others, as is done in other universities around the world” he concluded.

There were two authors on the rostrum for the month in person of Ahmed Maiwada, a legal practitioner, literary critic and poet who read from his new collection of poem titled FOSSILS, while Professor Tunde Adeniran read from his own collection, Labyrinthine Ways. The two guest writers of the month had the audience respond to some of the poetry, especially as relates to the society. Readings from both books by students of Eco international School, kubwa, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Benjamin Ubiri and the rendition of Let The Tears Flow by Chris Otaigbe added colour to the event.

The event, which had in attendance Dr. Wale Okediran as the chairman, and such personalities like Dr. Paul Dike of the National Art Gallery, Yeye George from USIS, former, Director of the FCT Education Resource Centre, Dr. Lizzy Ben-Iheanacho and Ken Ike Okere of the Abuja Literary, Professor Dibu Ojerinde and the Minister, Dr. Jerry Agada, was used to propose a toast to Mr. Funsho Adeyelu, the GM of NICON Luxury and host of the reading whose birthday falls on the same day as the reading. Gifts were presented to him by the chapter.

Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Oluseyi Adigun, a medical practitioner and poet in his welcome address earlier on had re-emphasized his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of members of the chapter by providing them the opportunity to improve their writing to enable the make quality contribution to the development of literature. “We are set light up the literary community in Abuja by bringing to you in contact with some of the best writers and books within and outside the conclave of the federal capital territory on monthly basis. ANA Abuja is a model chapter and we shall continue to blaze the trail,” he added. The chairman who did not hide his admiration for the student of Eco International School, Kubwa, challenged the student to ensure that they not only read, read and read other people’s works but to start thinking of embracing the art of writing themselves. “I look forward to when you will come here and read your own poetry or short story” said the chairman and promise that the ANA Abuja school project which was abandoned by the last executive will be picked up again to give the younger ones the opportunity of benefiting from the activities of the association.

In his closing remark before moving on to the birthday cocktail planned for the association by the GM of the hotel, Dr. Wale Okediran expresses his happiness in seeing the Abuja chapter back on his feet once more after a long spell of inactivity occasioned by some internal crisis. He also commended the management of the hotel for their willingness to host the writer’s community. “Our strength lies in virile and active chapters. The National Executives are scattered across the length and breadth of Nigeria, making it difficult for us to hold meetings and reading like the chapters. We are administrators, it’s the chapters that do the job and we’ll always be there to support them” he told the audience.

The former member of the House of Representatives who is serving his second term as President after serving as both treasurer and general secretary in the past reiterated advised the chapter not to rest on its oars as a lot of people, which include the younger generations looked up today. “You need to look inward for opportunities such as these. I said the same thing to the Kogi State chapter when they complain of lack of funds after we inaugurate them in Lokoja this morning. There are many more organizations out there that we can meet and establish partnership with to fund your activities” he admonished.

LAUGHING WITH THE GODS

Title – The Gods Are Laughing

Author – Chinedum Ify Onwusilikam

Publishers – E mage Reality

Pages – 150

Reading through Ify’s book, I cannot help but to laugh along with the gods. Not because I find them funny but rather scary. The events depicted in the one hundred and fifty page book took one on a journey back to the pre-colonial Nigeria where men are nothing but pencil in the hands of God/gods. Where became nothing but pawn in the hands. The gods, with the help of their priests toy us around as they desired.

This book reminds one of Africa’s male child traditions. In those days and till today, the joy of a typical African man is not complete without a male child. Such was the faith of Ichie Amadi in the first plot of this interesting story, whom after his talk of the village marriage had four female child in quick succession. He became so dissollsioned that he isolated himself from his wife and daughter. Through the village priest, Akrika, Ichie Amadi offered sacrifice to the gods to appease them that they may give a male child who, as Africans would always put ‘will carry on the name of the family’ The gods did heard him and gave him a child, or so he thinks but only for a short while as that same child whom he called Ebubedike and shower so much love on would later be decreed by the gods to be casted into the evil forest when he was discovered to have grown his first two teeth from the upper jaw. But as fate would have it, the boy finds his way back to the village of Umunna Ala through her elder sister, Ihuoma who up till then still hold herself responsible for the evil that befell his brother Ebubedike.

The God’s are laughing is no doubt a unique piece of creative effort worth reading because of the multiple sets style used by the author. For instance, in the village of Ekwuka, where another character, in the book, Ifediba had ran to after loosing her three children and husband in a mysteriously and was accused of being responsible for those deaths by her husband, the villagers and the gods of the land represented by their mouthpiece, Akirika the Chief Priest. She it was who later found and take care of Ebubedike, who was renamed Oluebubechukwu. Then contrast this setting then thrust on us is the conflict of people’s way of life and religion to be precise. While the people of Umunna Ala believes in their gods and abide by whatever Akirika order them to do without recourse, the people of Ekwuka, as was discovered by Ifediba discovered that believes in another ‘Chi’ which is the bigger GOD. This bigger GOD eventually finds its way into Umunna Ala when the missionaries invaded the village under the disguise of wanting to educate their children.

As would be the case, Ihuoma ended up becoming one of the pioneer brides of this new God. With the approval of her father she had enrolled in the missionaries’ school and rose to become a medical doctor. Are the gods still laughing? They dare not. For through this means the bigger God perfected his plan of bringing the doomed boy back to his root. Now a medical student himself, he got drawn to her elder sister, Ihuoma on first sight and the two could not rest until the mystery of their blood link was unraveled by the ever curios Ihuoma who is still not able to exonerate herself from her brother’s misfortune.

Talking about the missionaries and their mission, some of our fore-fathers till date are not still able to forgive themselves for allowing the colonial masters to come in under whatever guise only to come turn our people against their long known god. This was evident in the attitude of the people of Umunna Ala, whose Igwe approved the entrants of the missionaries to the village but with a stern warning not out step their bound. Amadi, Ekene and many others soon see the importance of this missionary, not minding the intrusion of their religious belief they all enroll their children and themselves in the school.

In the sub plot in this book of cultural anthropology, the people of Amofia were not spared from this archaic traditions and custom. Here, Igwe Uchendu insisted that his only son and heir to the throne must choose a wife from a royal family from any of the neighboring village. Kelechi, the Prince would however not hear of this as he already have his eyes set on Obianuju one of the most beautiful and well mannered girl in that village and who is from a good family as well. While Igwe Uchendu busied himself arranging for his son’s wife as is the custom, Kelechi who is determined to leave his life his own way and not to be burdened by any royalty string, also pre-occupied himself trying to win the love of the one his heart has chosen. For the Igwe, it was a double tragedy which for any reason will not have befallen him if the missionaries and their professed civilization have been prevented. He not only loose his son to this bridge in generational gap but his daughter Adanna who like his brother is already in a secret affair with Emeka instead of waiting for their father to choose him a princely husband from the neighboring village as custom demand. In the heat of this confusion and the conflicts that follows, Kelechi not waiting for his father to disown him as he already threatened packed his belongings and relocated to Lagos,

Consciously or unconsciously one interesting subject in this book is love, I mean true love. It runs through the book from beginning to the end. First was Amadi who laboured to win the love of Adaeze and how they lived happily thereafter except for their single moment of trial when he abandoned his wife and children when his wife gave birth to their fourth daughter while he was expecting a male child. Then, we talk about the display of true love, friendship and brotherliness displayed by Amadi and Ekene. The two families is a good example of what life was in the pre-colonial era where everyone lives together peacefully and one is his brother’s keeper. Another good example is Ikem and Obioma and the ease with which they receive Ifediba into their household even without knowing her before. And as the story implies, they must have lived together for not less than twenty years. Needless to talk about Ihuoma and Ebubedike when they first met in the hospital, Kelechi and Obianuju and ofcourse, Adanna and Emeka.

Without mincing word, I wish to say here that the book is no doubt a worthy addition to the shelves of every passionate reader in this country. It is a book for all ages and class. Its language is simple and the settings are not in anyway difficult to understand. In this age when we are already loosing touch with our ways of live as a people, the gods are laughing no doubt provide some insight into our ways of life as a people, especially to the younger generations.

So, go pick up a copy of ‘The Gods are laughing’ and laugh with the gods.

THE DAY OBASANJO DIES!!!

The Day Obasanjo Dies, Will Nigeria and Nigerians be Free?

In homes, on the Streets, in beer parlours, curses are rained on Obasanjo; all blames of Nigeria’s problems are placed on him. The Media, [but for NTA] vehemently echoes the people’s ‘curses’, oh sorry ‘voices’. In many Offices, at Restaurants, Filling Stations, the curses on Obasanjo mount to the high heavens. At the gathering of fools, when drunks congregate, even when the intellectuals ensemble, it is not any different. In most Newspapers and Magazines columns, Obasanjo is the Nigerian Villain vilified.

In Nigeria, everyone knows the answers to all the problems of Nigeria’s except the non advice- heeding and arrogant President. Everyone know exactly what should be or shouldn’t be done by the President yet in their daily responsibilities they fail and the beauty of life is that they would gleefully fault it on Obasanjo. If it is not Obasanjo, poverty becomes Nigerians perfect excuse. He is the modern day Pharaoh and Nigerians are the Israelites. His leadership is insensitive to the plight of the masses (Often described as the poor masses).

Fuel pump price increases? As the sixth largest producer of Oil it shouldn’t be heard of. No jobs, Obasanjo has pocketed them for his families, or because he is wicked he won’t release the jobs. Un-maintained Refineries of over twenty years are ill-functioning, Obasanjo should get them repaired magically, eight years is a long enough time to repair damaged goods of twenty years? There is no money to pick on the street or money for no job done; Obasanjo has stolen all our money. No food, almighty Obasanjo should provide three square meals by way of manna from heaven; otherwise we would starve to death. Obasanjo, Obasanjo, Obasanjo, everybody’s excuse for failing, so I ask,

“The Day Obasanjo dies, will Nigeria and Nigerians be free?”

O! President Obasanjo, [NDDC] Niger delta Development Commission became a reality: it wasn’t you. GSM became a reality; it wasn’t your idea besides the high tariff is killing us. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is formed to check fraud, that’s Obasanjo’s business to victimize those who oppose him. A Stadium was built Obasanjo wasted our money on Sports when there is no food on our table. Money was raised for the biggest Library; it is called “executive extortion”. Rural- Urban migration continues unabated, Obasanjo is not motivating the youth to stay in the village and farm. Money is given to PHCN, old transformers get repainted and acquired, after a week they collapse Obasanjo should know what to do, he is all-seeing. Teachers would not teach students are splattered on the street getting schooled by foreign films and musicals; Obasanjo is irresponsible for that to be happening. Children are untrained at home on how to conduct themselves in life; Obasanjo is responsible for that failure. Offices’ Executives hoards money in fixed deposit to profit self and thus starve workers of their pay. Obasanjo should be their conscience to do the right thing. Due Process is a welcome development but how such and where is the money they are saving? He secured debt forgiveness and settlement, are they not the ones that incurred the debt? Nigerians cry back. Cynicism characterizes our existence. Oh what a people, what a nation?

“The Day Obasanjo dies, will Nigeria and Nigerians be free”?

Money is approved for repair of roads, middlemen eat half the money, Obasanjo should catch them, afterall he is the God watching the Conscience of Nigerians. Our Self-seeking Legislators who have become the ‘high and mighty’ cannot stand up for the country or intelligently debate laws to find solutions to our problems, Obasanjo has pocketed them. O! Nigerians, what a nose-dive attitude and perception to life we have imbibed? Who undid us with this “enshrined failure attitude”?

Obasanjo! Obasanjo!! Obasanjo!!!

What good fate has made him the President of ‘Great Nigeria’? : A Nation of people who excuse themselves of all sins and finds a Scapegoat in their President. A Nation of people where everyone is too right in their own eyes to be corrected, where we love God but not our neighbours? When he came, they said a Saviour has come. His reforms call for hard work and sacrifice, why? Why? That is not in our character so he is no longer the Saviour; he is the sacrifice, ‘the sacrificial lamb’. Upon him (Obasanjo) is laid the iniquities of us all. Like Jesus, the day he dies, it will be finished, the sacrifice would have been made but will Nigeria and Nigerians be free?

The Day Obasanjo dies, Nigeria and Nigerians shall be free. Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! It shall be free. We shall have free money and jobs shall litter the streets and rooftops. The dishonest saboteurs called middlemen shall be BORN AGAIN and become noble Patriots. The self-centred, power drunken Politicians who gamble our future for their jollity and egotistic sustenance shall become noble statesmen and render selfless service to the nation. When Obasanjo dies, Civil Servants shall turn a new leaf and stop Pen-Robbing Nigeria. Police shall stop to embarrass us with N20 Toll Point no-service collections; the Police brutality innocent people suffer everyday will be a thing of the past, [especially the commuters drivers] the killing of innocent people calling them criminals shall be history, and policemen shall no longer rob us on the high way with guns bought from tax payers money. Bankers would reduce high interest rates, loan money freely and think more of Nigerians than profit for their investors. Oh Obasanjo, your death shall turn the irresponsible father and husband to a good father and husband respectively. The ungodly men shall turn noble and work hard sacrificially for the good of Nigeria.

Obasanjo’s death shall mark a new dawn for a Nation in utter disarray and self delusion, when he dies, our Artisan workers shall become honest and hardworking. His death would stop our young beautiful female children from prostituting or get trafficked to Italy. His death shall revolutionize our young men from the “get-rich-quick mentality and make them work hard with patience for their effort to yield honest fruit.

The Day Obasanjo dies will Nigeria and Nigerians be free? He tells Nigerians to see “hope”, but they call him a hypocritical preacher. It is not untrue that Nigerians are the happiest people, they booed their President before the world during COJA and were overjoyed they did, our ignorance is our bliss. Yes, tis’ true that Nigerians are the happiest people. For all our past and present failures Obasanjo is the perfect excuse. Glaringly, failing in our civil responsibilities, we clamour for our civil rights. The Day Obasanjo dies, Nigeria shall be free. Yes! Free of materialistic preachers. Our preachers shall rethink and teach the beatitudes of Jesus. Nigeria shall be free of ‘Sheiks’ who foment and instigate religious chaos that lives many innocent people dead, they shall teach that ‘Islam is the religion of peace’ and in peace we must live, ‘live together as brothers or perish as fools’ to borrow they words of Martin Luther King Jnr. The Death of Obasanjo shall free Nigeria of its much ethnic conflicts that cause civil unrest, for example in the Delta region of Nigeria. Universities Lecturers shall then give marks meritoriously, and not to those who succumb to their amorous loins or the rich student who ‘sort’ them out. The Day Obasanjo, “Saviour turned dictator” dies; Nigeria and Nigerians will be free of all sins for then the sacrifice would have been made.

So then shall we await his death, the death of Mr. President. He shall die, surely but when his days be fulfilled. For I bear him witness, that he is not responsible for Nigeria’s ills. What distress he faces daily, of efforts unappreciated, even for the best of intents. Mr. President, such is the life of a reforming leader; lonely and hard, but the omniscient justice is your judge; you are not the “ill” of Nigeria. “Time, Bob Marley said, would tell”. Of recent, volitional loyalists are springing up and singing your accolades, even the antagonistic Labour President, why now? They couldn’t see your foresight when foresight is the hallmark of a leader. They have called me a fool, a sycophant and a blind man who cannot see the plight of the masses? Yes, I am a fool, blind and a sycophant, thank you. I know that I have always been one but the truth be told, we collectively undid Nigeria: our neglects, our oversights, our omissions, our greed, our self-centredness and our unpatriotic attitude. Our condoning of many wrongs, our ignorance, our determined ‘will’ to achieve selfish aims at all cost and our lack of sense to train our children.

Our greed and fear of what to eat has kept us from aspiring higher goals in life. Like CHICKENS we live for food, food, food, yes we need food But the Government house is a bureaucratic place, not a farm, if we need food so badly, let’s be wise enough to plant a seed, the Bible warned that, “ the talk of the lips tendeth to penury”. A wise man digs a well before he becomes thirsty, nature is irreversible; we can’t have food if we do not farm, we can’t grow big if we do not start small. We are down. Yes! The standing up is up to us, not Mr. President whom we have nicknamed our problem. In Development Studies, there’s what they call, ‘development from below’. If the change we direly need cannot come from the top, we can start from below, that’s a good option if change really matters to us as a nation, let’s start from where we are, from you and I. they say, “Be the change you want to see”

On the Brink of Collapse

For some time now I have followed proceedings at the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission with so much passion, simply to justify my feeling it is going to end up creating more problems than it is intended to solve. In fact, I still feel the commission is a shamble regardless of the presence of Justice Kayode Esho as the chairman of the panel. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo had during the first term of his two term tenure set up what was then known as Oputa Panel after the name of the head of that commission, Retired Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

While, contrary to people’s opinion, the Oputa Panel which was then seen as a ploy by the former president to embarrass General Ibrahim Babangida in particular, the panel succeeded in healing a lot of wounds and some people were truly reconciled. The same cannot be said of the Justice Kayode Esho panel currently going on in River State and that is why I have decided to air my opinion. Rivers State is on the brink of collapse!

It would be observed that all fingers points in just one direction as far as proceedings at the commission is concerned. Barely all of the witnesses and complainants that have appeared at the panel have one thing or the other to accuse the former governor of, including being the chief financier of cult activities which has become a torn in the flesh of both Nigerians and foreigners in the entire Niger Delta. If truly, the former two term governor is such a devil in human skin, shouldn’t we be wary of the possibility of him or his supporters unleashing more mayhem on the state and the region at large to forestall proceeding at the commission.

My intention is not to hold brief for Dr. Peter Odili whom I am sure could not have been innocent of all the charges against him, including the assassination of his friend Dr, Marshal Harry. The essence of this article is to warn the state of an impending doom. I have watched with keen interest and the signals I am seeing is that of outbreak of violence in the state as a result of this truth and reconciliation committee. Suffix to say that some loyalists of the former governor are of the opinion that the commission is a vendetta mission to get back at the former governor for dropping him in favour of Sir Celestine Omehia during the last general election.

The truth of the matter is, the truth and reconciliation commission, rather than heal wounds and offer lasting solutions to the problems in River State, it will open up more wounds and inflict pains in the heart indigenes so much so that may put the state on the brink of total collapse. If this is allowed to happen, posterity will not forgive those directly responsible.