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More Nigerians Express Support For Achebe
BY Kayode Ogunbunmi
More Nigerians have rallied to the support of Professor Chinua Achebe over his refusal to accept the recent Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour awarded him by the Federal government.
Last week, another Nigerian group in the United States, the Nigerian Village Square, wrote Achebe to support his position on the state of the nation.
In his short reply to the letter, Professor Achebe expressed happiness that Nigerians realised the reason why he refused the honour.
"Thank you for standing up to be counted. Our country can yet be saved," he wrote.
In the "letter of Support", the group said they are "proud to associate ourselves with your recent outrage at things going on in our country, as expressed in your open letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
"As you have noted, there has been little change in the situation of the country since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Instead, we note with dismay, the unfortunate indifference and contempt which the present civilian administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, continues to show toward the general populace. On a daily basis, Nigerians are still exposed to acts of intolerance, human rights abuses, arrests, intimidation, lawlessness and general impunity reminiscent of previous military dictatorships."
The organisation said these problems, "along with the connivance and indifference of the privileged class," are themes which Achebe has consistently dealt with in his writings, speeches and general political activism.
"Indeed, it is a measure of your uncanny understanding of what fundamentally ails us as a nation that your analyses and prescriptions in your 1983 political treatise, The Trouble with Nigeria, still remain as relevant today as they were then. Obviously, not very many in your class are listening," they wrote.
They expressed happiness that Professor Achebe has continued to stand "for what is just, fair and right. That is why we are not surprised that you have used the occasion of the Federal Government's grant to you of a national honour to again speak truth to power. This type of commitment that goes beyond mere lip service is rarely seen in what Nigeria of today has become."
The letter, signed by Philip Adekunle, USA; Bankole Arowobusoye, Canada; Kennedy Emetulu, England; Ebi Bozimo, USA; Ekene Awuzie, USA; Ejiro Onabrekpeya, USA and Moses Oconu, USA, expressedthe group's disappointed with government's response to Achebe's action.
" Of course, we are aware that you rejected the award from this government at this time, not because you hate Nigeria, but only as a mark of protest at the way our affairs of state are being presently handled," they said. "Nonetheless, it is our hope that your action will ultimately be a catalyst for President Obasanjo and those who today rule our country to become more reflective and begin to act as responsible stewards to the Nigerian people."
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