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Why I rejected national honour-Achebe
•FG explains position
ABIODUN ADELAJA, LERE OJEDOKUN, Abuja,
JUSTUS NWAKANMA, Lagos
RENOWNED
novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe has explained why he dumped Nigeria’s second
highest award, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), saying
he was dissatisfied with the handling of the country’s affairs by the President
Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
But government, reacting to the
development, cautioned him against mixing the award with politics, pointing out
that the honour is to celebrate achievement.
In the 2004 National Honours Awards List
released by the Federal Government last Friday in Abuja, Achebe was bestowed
with the CFR.
Other prominent Nigerians honoured
included former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who bagged the highest
honour in the land, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR),
Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, world acclaimed computer
scientist, Dr. Philip Emeagwali and chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited,
Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, all of who together with 186 others bagged varying awards.
But multi award-winning novelist, Prof.
Achebe said he rejected his award because President Obasanjo had allegedly
failed to meet public expectations in impacting democracy dividends to
Nigerians.
He also expressed displeasure that The
Presidency had been rather silent on the lingering Anambra political crisis.
Professor Achebe stated his reasons for
rejecting the award in a letter to President Obasanjo and released last
Saturday.
According to him, he was particularly
piqued by the seeming silence of President Obasanjo over the Anambra crisis, a
situation, he said, gives the impression that the President is not committed to
Nigeria’s unity.
Said he: “I write this letter with a heavy
heart. For some time now, I have watched events in Nigeria with alarm and
dismay. I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state of Anambra where a
small clique of renegades, openly boosting its connections in high places, seems
determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fieldom. I am
appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of
the Presidency”.
Achebe recalled that 43 years ago, at the
first anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, he was given the first Nigerian
National Trophy for Literature.
This was followed in 1979 by two awards -
the Nigerian National Order of Merit and Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) as
well as the first National Creativity Award in 1999.
According to him, he accepted all those
honours fully aware that Nigeria was not perfect. “But I had a strong belief
that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our
diverse peoples”, he remarked.
Prof. Achebe, however regretted that
presently, Nigeria’s condition has worsened.
“Nigeria’s condition today under your
watch is, however, too dangerous for silence, I must register my disappointment
and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 honour
list”, he said.
Other prominent Nigerians were also
honoured in this year’s National Honours Awards.
They include former Head of State, Chief
Ernest Shonekan, Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, world acclaimed
computer scientist, Dr Philip Emeagwali and chairman of Zinox Technologies
Limited, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh.
A total of 191 leading Nigerians were
listed and are to be honoured at the award ceremony in Abuja on December 16,
2004.
Meanwhile, Federal Government yesterday
reacted to Prof. Achebe’s rejection of the national honour awarded him, advising
the renowned scholar that the gesture should not be mixed with political
sentiments.
Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs,
Youth Development and Special Duties, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jr.) who spoke through
his Special Assistant, Mr. Namsy Nymiel said while the celebrated author has the
right, under the democratic dispensation, to express his views on any political
issue, it was inappropriate to mix his listing for national honours with
politics.
The minister, who doubles as the chairman,
National Honours’ Award Committee, also explained that Prof. Achebe was named as
one of the 1981 recipients for this year’s honours based on merit, credibility
and achievements and not on any political consideration.
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