‘THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA’ IS NOT ONLY A BOOK FOR NIGERIA

This pocket size book, authored by the famed Nigerian literary giant, Chinua Achebe is brief, concise and insightful. The 63 paged ‘epistle’ (under ten chapters) diagnosis the issues that confront Nigeria and finally concludes with authority that ‘the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership’.

Despite the book highlighting some of the major draw backs to Nigeria’s growth and development, the reasons articulated mirrors the challenges that afflict many African States.

Chinua Achebe points out that a visionary, goal-oriented, compassionate, brave and fearless, non- ethnocentric, honest leader is what Nigeria desires if she is to prosper economically and politically.

He chides the inherent expression of ‘cooperation’ among legislatures on different divide when it comes to their welfare, writing “ while the electorate is thus emasculated by such instigated divisions, the successful politician will link up even with his tribal enemy…in order to promote measures of common interest to their new elite class’’.

This observation is not only peculiar to Nigeria. It is a feature across many African political landscapes. 

Chinua Achebe made an appeal to the electorates to rise above tribalism and elect the politician who will advance a nationalistic course. Electorates should ask the politician ‘Why do you want my vote?’ adding that the electorate ‘must treat the easy answers of politician (to this question) with appropriate scepticism’.

In his view, the educated elites have a major role to play in the politics of Nigeria by holding the politician to account on behalf of their fellow countrymen. The educated class should not give the expression ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ a breath of life.

The Trouble With Nigeria is a blistering, uncharitable vitriol on the political system of his country. One could sense the “Things Fall Apart” author’s frustrations, indignation and pain as to why Nigeria and its people continue to ‘perform below our potential’.

The reader could also detect Achebe’s unflinching anguish at the treatment the Igbo’s were subjected to during and after the decade long  Biafran War especially under the Gen. Gowon led administration. He lashed out at Chief Awolowo for his high-handedness and deliberate machinations to cripple the Igbo people both economically and politically.

The writer also singled out Mallam Aminu Kano whom he likened to Mahatma Ghandi for praise. A man with a ‘selfless commitment to the common people of the land’

The Trouble With Nigeria was written by Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian for Nigeria. But the fundamental issues discussed in the book are peculiar to Africa as a whole. That is, Nigeria was employed as an example to highlight the larger problem many political watchers have identified as bane to the continent’s viscous movement towards development- LEADERSHIP

TRIBUTE TO PROF. KOFI NYIDEVU AWOONOR

I won’t pretend to have known the late Prof. Kofi Awoonor that well. I know as little as many people do, mostly through his literary works and his role within Ghana’s political sphere.

My first introduction to the Prof’s works was in Senior Secondary School, during my core English class. As part of the syllabus, students were expected to read African poetry and the study book featured some of his works.

Despite African poetry being a bit weird in my ears (honestly when poems are mentioned it was the Shakespearean versions that hit home), I really enjoyed it because I could relate to the thematic outpourings in the anthology.

Kofi Awoonoor’s poem ‘The Cathedral’ became a favourite of mine for some inexplicable reason. And since then my admiration for his works became something in the realm of a halo light. His poems are lush (in language) and ‘unpleasant’ as it challenges popular notions especially modern religion. A reader of his works could feel the brute, honest force in his voice-or ink.

Though I’ve not read much of his works, I’m currently reading his collection of essays titled ‘African Predicament’- one book I’ll recommend to anyone; any day.

Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor was a vociferous humanist, an unflinching promoter of African tradition and culture, a diplomat, statesman, a distinguished academic and prominent poet and literary giant who has been described as a ’literary royalty’ and placed on the same literary rostrum as Nigerian scholars as the irrepressible Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.

I doubted the news when I first ‘heard’ on twitter. But as the day grew old, it became very clear that it wasn't a rumour but truth, indeed he was a victim of that senseless, cowardly killings carried out by those criminally minded, Somali-based Al-Shabab terrorist  group, who attacked the Westgate Mall in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Since then a lot of tributes have poured in to eulogize this great African literary giant, who was a guest at a Storymoja Hay Festival in Nairobi. Kenya.

The least I can do is to wish him a safe trip to the other side of the world and pray Katsiami will ferry his across the river. Through his works his memory shall forever reign and 21^st September, 2013 shall forever be remembered in Ghana as a day the gods chose to bless in the day (birth of Kwame Nkrumah) and curse by night fall (demise of Nkrumah’s adherent Prof. Kofi Awoonor).

It appears heaven needed a poet at her banquets and in Prof. Awoonor, they saw a poet with finesse and elegance who could mesmerize the guests at such banquets with sterling recitals, thus his choosing.

In his honour, I’ll share with you one of my favourite poems by him:

 Enjoy ‘The Cathedral” by Prof. Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor:

THE CATHEDRAL
On this dirty patch
a tree once stood
shedding incense on the infant corn:
its boughs stretched across a heaven
brightened by the last fires of a tribe.
They sent surveyors and builders
who cut that tree
planting in its place
A huge senseless cathedral of doom.