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Nigeria an embarrassment to
civilised world �Achebe
By Chinedu Offor
Correspondent,
Washington
DC
Eminent author Professor
Chinua Achebe could have been a much happier man as he turned 74 today in
far way United States, but for events in his country, Nigeria in general
and his state, Anambra in particular.
The wordsmith who has been in
the news recently for rejecting a Nigerian government�s honour�s award
said in an exclusive interview from his home in New York that Nigeria is
becoming an embarrassment to the civilised world.
Apparently referring to the
recent development in Anambra State where hoodlums went on destruction
spree of public property and forced the Governor and his men to flee for
their lives, Achebe said it has become very clear some people have decided
to unleash mayhem in the state with the sole aim of creating dubious
avenues to further plunder its collective wealth and impoverish the people
the more.
�I do not know what the reason
would be for doing that except perhaps to find justification for declaring
a state of emergency or something like that. I wish the world press would
pay attention at what is happening at this stage because Africa has a way
of springing surprises like Rwanda, like Sudan. In fact, if one had paid
attention, one would have caught these things before they developed into
massive catastrophes, genocides and things like that�, he pointed out.
Excerpts of the
interview:
What's your reaction to the
latest crisis in Anambra State?
It's worrying, really
worrying. It seems to me that some people have decided to unleash mayhem
in the state. I do not know
what the reason would be for doing that except perhaps to find
justification for declaring a state of emergency or something like that. I
wish the world press would pay attention at what is happening at this
stage because Africa has a way of springing surprises like Rwanda, like
Sudan and in fact if one had paid attention one would have caught these
things before they developed into massive catastrophes, genocides and
things like that.
Do you think the Anambra
crisis has the potential to degenerate to these
levels?
Oh! Why not? One doesn't know. I fear that there is a
potentiality. I fear that we must assume the worst in order to prevent it.
What would you say to
the people of Anambra State as they pick up the pieces of their lives
after this attack?
I would say to them keep the peace.
Do not allow few people to drag the state into chaos. Keep the peace, be
on the lookout and be law-abiding because the fear is, this is an attempt
to create the appearance of lawlessness.
Allegations are that
those responsible for the crisis are sons and daughters of the state. You
once said there is a federal government complicity in the act, do you
still believe that?
Oh yes, oh yes, there is a powerful
federal government before whom all this is happening and what one really
wants to know is what the federal government is there for when a part of
the federation is going up in flames.
What do you make of some of the
alleged individuals behind the crisis still retaining armed police guards when
the governor previously was stripped of that right?
It's real provocation, it's real
provocation and what does one say? I cannot say to them to take to the
streets and start revenging
because that would be misinterpreted and that could be used for other things we do not know.
The federal government
reacted to your rejection of
the award through Mr. Femi Fani Kayode on behalf of the president calling
your action a slap on the face of Nigeria. Do you regret your
action?
What I said when I rejected
the award was self-explanatory. Nigeria is an embarrassment, and this is
something the federal government should not have allowed, and if their
response is to define my concern as a slap on the face that is their
business. I said what I said because I am a patriotic Nigerian and I think
Nigeria can do much much better. I think Nigeria has the capacity to
become a middle ranked developing nation not a nation at the tail end of
things like she is at the moment.
As you clock 74 what are
your thoughts?
I am very grateful to be alive
and to be working well. I am very grateful to those who read and like my
work. I am grateful to God and my family for keeping me going. I say thank
you very much for mentioning my birthday.
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