If there was no Achebe, a prototype would have been invented. Cynics (numerous to list!) do not hesitate to enlist Achebe’s as another evidence of a failing government. And they are as reductionists as to see Achebe in the lighat of apt classic titles as Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease! Conversely, government spokesman, Fani Kayode ( a conspicuous metaphor for reaction!) ever ready to do operation fire for fire with critics found Achebe handy to exhibit same trade marks of governmental arrogance and ignorance on a subject matter that tasks knowledge and imagination. Either way we have been served by and large with heat without light, quantity as distinct from quality discourse on the Achebe question. Which ever way we look at it, the nation loses another opportunity for deep reflection.
This government not long ago failed Wole Soyinka’s acid test when the Nobel Prize winner tasked our imagination about the deplorable state of the nation in the wake of the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige. Same administration conclusively confirmed rtd Major Umar’s fears of official incompetence, insensitivity and indifference when the latter dared to speak in the face of observed national decay. Much earlier the administration had fallen cheap to the provocations professor Sam Aluko on the economy and Chief Ojukwu on the polity. May we for once pass Chinua Achebe’s latest acid test which is far testier than the previous ones! This prayer is as valid for the government’s overzealous palace jesters as it is valid for the increasing lot that have made government bashing a routine. We are all losers if the nation unwittingly confirms the Achebe’s fears of a failed country!
Chief Presidential spok-eswoman, Remi Oyo had raised the prospects of less belligerent governance when in a dignified manner she fanned ignorance about Achebe’s rejection of a national award. This unusual water for fire response had since been eclipsed by Fani Kayode’s ever carpet bombing wrapped with star-words and demagoguery.
Fani Kayode is reactionary not so much for his ever backward parochial views but because in fairness to him he often hits the headlines in reaction to or against genuine concern about progress or lack of it. He will be remembered as the adviser on Public Affairs who never sets any public agenda but reacts against agenda setting by worthy citizens. Fani has never been counted on the side of commendation of the concerned citizens but condemnation of imaginary enemies.
We must assist government to understand Achebe with the hope that we all shall be understood. It is unhelpful that Achebe’s five-paragraph rejection of the award is a food-for-thought are belittled by uncountable wounding words of Femi Fani-Kayode. Reaction to Achebe more than anything justifies why the literary giant was right to have treated the award as Greek gift as distinct from a truly national award. The government’s singular intolerant reaction shows that its award was not due to added value of the recipients to the nation but government’s assigned estimation of select and connected individuals that is dependent on some dubious ‘political correctness’ expressed in form of sycophancy. If this government genuinely thinks Achebe deserves the award, his seemingly rude reminder of the national (NOT personal!) problems makes even a greater case for same government to persuade and convince him to kindly come forward for his deserved merit. The exhibited disdain against Achebe shows that this Presidency has a lot of work to do convincing people that it is not under the spell of men and women of little faith in what they themselves proclaim from the rooftops. It is a great paradox of this government that its yesterday’s national award listed recipient turns into today’s instant enemy!
The content analysis of Fani Kayode shows how this government instantly misunderstood Achebe and invariably how it is increasingly misunderstanding the nation. Achebe in this singular development will prefer reference to his book; The Trouble with Nigeria which constructively deals with leadership problem. Interest-ingly he shares a lot in common with President Obasanjo who also in recognition of Nigeria’s leadership crisis initiated and founded Leadership Forum. Achebe’s reservation is all about leadership. Official reaction so far shows that leadership crisis is even deepening. It is uncharitable for anybody to remind a tested patriot like Achebe about the imperatives of national award as distinct from ‘foreign and international awards in places like Sweden’ as Fani mischievously did. Achebe does not need a Nobel Prize to be noble in pursuing national agenda. That counselling from Fani is more useful for the likes of Finance Minister Igozi Nweala who proudly recently celebrated an European (NOT Africa!) Heroes Awards. In fact the entire administration that is desperately eager to get IMF/World bank award for ‘economic recovery’ even when its citizens think otherwise will find Fani’s advice more homely than Achebe who as far back as independence year of 1960 proudly received the first Nigerian (not European!) National Trophy for Literature!
