Chinua Ahebe's rejection of an honorary title of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CRF) sends a signal that all is not lost on the Great Nigeria Project. It is a clear signal that Nigeria is not in short supply of men of honour, who will not bow to receive awards when the country is insecure and her citizens wallowing in abject poverty.
The security and economic situation in Nigeria do not contain pleasant stories and there is very little or nothing on ground that calls for celebration. We are becoming used to our dilapidated and abandoned roads that have become death traps, but the uncaring attitude of leaders from the local to Federal level of governance is becoming worrisome. A journey to the Eastern part of Nigeria is lined up with stories of horrors and woes similar to the aged stories of Mongo Park's encounter in Nigeria hinterland. Kidnapping and threat of Boko Haram have become familiar occurrences, while the problem of power supply has defied all solutions.
Chinua Achebe like other Nigerians of honour is not unmindful of these problems, and would have preferred the leadership of the country to address the issues before ditching out awards. It was under this premise that Achebe turned down a similar award in 2004. His letter to the President highlighted the level of the populace suffering from insecurity and corruption. Nothing significant has been done to his complaints since he wrote in 2004. The author of Things Fall Apart is of the opinion that he had no moral justification in accepting a national award when things are falling apart and the centre cannot hold. I strongly share this opinion. God Bless Chinua Achebe. Your award is made of gold and cannot be compared with the highest honorary award of this world.
From: elombah daniel <elsdaniel@yahoo.com>
To: "naijaintellects@googlegroups.com" <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>; "ngpolitics@googlegroups.com" <ngpolitics@googlegroups.com>; "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 November 2011, 11:42
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Voice of America on Chinua Achebe
World-Renowned Nigerian Author Refuses His Country's Honor
Photo: AP/Craig Ruttle
Chinua Achebe, Nigerian-born novelist and poet at his home on the campus of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York where he is a professor Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008.
Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has, for the second time, refused to accept an honorary title from his home country.
The author of the internationally-acclaimed novel Things Fall Apartwould have been one of the Nigerians named a "Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic" at a ceremony on Monday.
But Achebe, who now lives in the U.S., said Nigeria has not addressed or solved the concerns he raised the last time he was offered the honor in 2004. At that time, he wrote a letter to Nigeria's president saying the country was suffering from insecurity and corruption, and that parts of the country, including his home state of Anambra, were being run as a "bankrupt and lawless fiefdom."
A spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan called Achebe's decision "regrettable." He said Achebe had failed to note the extensive electoral reforms that have taken place under Mr. Jonathan, and suggested it may be because the author does not spend much time in Nigeria.
President Jonathan was elected earlier this year in a vote deemed fair by international observers. But violence erupted after the results were announced, and there has also been a surge of attacks, mostly in the North, blamed on a radical Muslim sect called Boko Haram.
The author of the internationally-acclaimed novel Things Fall Apartwould have been one of the Nigerians named a "Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic" at a ceremony on Monday.
But Achebe, who now lives in the U.S., said Nigeria has not addressed or solved the concerns he raised the last time he was offered the honor in 2004. At that time, he wrote a letter to Nigeria's president saying the country was suffering from insecurity and corruption, and that parts of the country, including his home state of Anambra, were being run as a "bankrupt and lawless fiefdom."
A spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan called Achebe's decision "regrettable." He said Achebe had failed to note the extensive electoral reforms that have taken place under Mr. Jonathan, and suggested it may be because the author does not spend much time in Nigeria.
President Jonathan was elected earlier this year in a vote deemed fair by international observers. But violence erupted after the results were announced, and there has also been a surge of attacks, mostly in the North, blamed on a radical Muslim sect called Boko Haram.
Daniel Elombah
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+44-2088087999
Every Nigerian that has something important to say, says it on www.elombah.com
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