National Honours: Where Awo And Achebe Differ

Professor Chinua Achebe, the world renowned literary giant, is a man for who I have the greatest respect. This illustrious son of Nigeria and its foremost ambassador in the diaspora, has done the nation proud, not only in the United States where he is based, but also in other parts of the world, on account of his fame and reputation as a literary giant and scholar of global repute.

His book, Things Fall Apart, an all time classics and a quintessence in creativity and literary excellence, speaks volume of the man, whose reputation and accomplishments bestride the vast earthly space.

A quite unassuming gentleman, Achebe shocked the world when a few years back, he rejected an award bestowed on him during the Obasanjo administration, citing in particular, the political crisis then raging in Anambra State between Chris Ngige and Chris Uba, his acclaimed God father, who were locked in fierce tussle for power and supremacy in the political space of the state.

His reaction at that time generated considerable stir and ripples, considering the self-effacing posture of the man not reputed to be on the vociferous side like Wole Soyinka, his brother and fellow compatriot in the literary fraternity.

And just recently, the same scenario was to repeat itself as the nation’s president, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, again extended the same gesture to Achebe.

Dramatically, the renowned professor again stunned not only the nation, but also the international community with an outright rejection of the honour, stressing that the condition which prompted his rejection of the honour some years back, still persists even till today.

I submit, with all respect, that the learned professor might not have got every thing right.

Indeed, if he cared to take even a casually objective look, he would discover quite some laudable policy indices that attest to the progressive thrust of the Jonathan administration.

For instance, this is a man who ascended the presidency in the first instance, as a successor to President Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory.

And considering the primordial sensibilities which define our political culture and behaviour, the unfriendly hues and cries which emanated from the Hausa-Fulani tribe in their vociferous clamour that Jonathan should steer clear of the coast of presidential succession and rather leave it opened to a fellow Hausa-Fulani, remain still fresh in memory.

But this notwithstanding, Jonathan was to confound the nation when he went ahead to appoint the number one officer of the nation’s electoral umpire, INEC, in the person of Professor Attahiru Jega, from among the Hausa-Fulani tribe, which the immediate past president, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua hailed from.

He did not even stop at that. He appointed a particularly celebrated figure in the person of Professor Attahiru Jega, who is renowned for his integrity and impeccable track record as a radical university unionist, who led the ASUU agitation in the defence of the rights of university teachers in those stormy industrial climate of the 1990s.

Indeed not a few people had thought at that time that by appointing a man of Hausa-Fulani origin to the sensitive post of INEC chairmanship and a man of such incurably radical temperament for that matter, then Jonathan had signed his political death warrant.

And predictably to Jega’s rating, INEC under him conducted what is today regarded as the most free and fair election in the annals of the nation’s political history, apart from the annulled June 12 1993 election. That is democracy in action, which as I guess, would not unlikely commend something special about Jonathan, to Achebe’s mind.

This said, one is also inclined to advise the professor that a study of Jonathan’s economic blueprint as it pertains to the strategic realm of industrialisation, agriculture, employment and investment, would be worth the while in the considerable vista of illumination it would offer in disabusing his hitherto harboured scepticism.

As a scholar, intellectual and renowned literary figure versed in the art of scientific inquiry, it is important that he brings this inquisitive curiosity to bear in undertaking an analytical appraisal of Jonathan’s blueprint in these pivotally strategic areas and then see whether his cynical perception of Jonathan’s administration will remain the same in the face of the new awareness.

And whatever shortcoming he may still perceive, even after that venture at discovering the truth, one thing which remains clearly apparent, as Achebe’s objective mind is likely to discover, is Jonathan’s sincerity; his genuineness of motive; his passionate love of the country and the fact that he meant well. These in itself, I believe, should be enough to commend him positively to Achebe’s mind.

Our learned professor should, beyond the foregoing, realise as well, that the virtue of patriotism and love of fatherland, is such that calls for a collective effort from every citizen of the country to steer the nation to befitting heights, envisioned for it by our founding fathers, at least, in consonance with the popular saying that since we have no other country to call our own, we must all join hands together to salvage it.

And as a man noted for his high premium on the African culture and tradition, Achebe, I believe, knows better than we do that East or West, there is no place like home.

At this point, it is perhaps pertinent to commend the exemplary precedent of the great Awo, who, inspired by the patriotic commitment to fatherland, was compelled to serve in the Gowon administration at a particularly critical phase of serious crisis in the life of the nation  in spite of his strong anti-military stance.

One shudders to contemplate the catastrophic effect that would have ensued for continued national unity and stability had the eminent statesman of blessed memory decided to remain a mere passive spectator, as the nation was immersed in the throes of imminent disintegration and anarchy.

It could also be recalled that the unflinching dedication and remarkable sense of excellence which Awo brought into this call to national service remained to date, one of the most inspiring marks of his heroism.

One also needs to recall that even beyond this, Awo went ahead to accept the honour of GCFR bestowed on him by the then President Shehu Shagari in spite of his deep misgiving against the regime for perceived wrongs bordering on the massive riggings at the elections perpetrated by shagari’s NPN which he similarly condemned for its incompetence and abysmal failure.

Like the great Awo, national service beckons on Achebe for a truly fulfilling role to etch him eternally in the hall of fame.

•Salis Owolabi , former PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, lives in New York