As a young citizen, I am pretty much interested in the affairs of this country especially as it involves the leadership and the citizenry as well. But of all the events that enraptured the nation this week, nothing caught my fancy than a little but screaming headline on the edges of major newspapers: “ACHEBE REJECTS NATIONAL AWARD OF CFR”.
One would tend to discard this piece of news with a wave of the hand as having no serious bearing on the nation but on a second thought, it has serious implications, especially if not looked into wholly. For one, Achebe’s body language is a slap on the face on the Jonathan administration. Even though this is not the first time, Achebe is doing this. Seven years ago, Renowned literary giant and writer of the famous “Things Fall Apart” Chinua Achebe, the literary giant who was inches away from being a Nobel laureate rejected an award offered to him by the then Olusegun Obasanjo administration citing events relating to his home state of Anambra that involved the kidnapping of a sitting governor, insecurity, dilapidating health, education, road infrastructure, and the poor economy. This time around in a statement rejecting the award, Achebe said "The reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me. I must, therefore, regretfully decline the offer again."
It was apparent in Jonathan’s response that Achebe’s rejection was hurting and too good to be ignored, and could not hide his disappointment. In his response through his spokesman, Reuben Abati in a statement said: “President Jonathan is also surprised by Prof. Achebe's claim that the issues which caused him to reject the same award seven years ago, still remain unresolved." According to the statement, "coming as it does, against the background of the widely acclaimed electoral reforms undertaken by the Jonathan administration, the claim by Prof. Achebe clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria's current political situation. Politically, Nigeria cannot be said to be where it was in 2004 as the Jonathan administration has embarked on extensive electoral reforms to institute a regime of electoral integrity that all Nigerians can be proud of. “
Going by Jonathan’s response, which did not address the issues, Achebe raised, it constantly shows the myopic and disinterestedness of Nigerian governments to constructive criticisms by revered personalities, who have thrived in their respective disciplines. Yes, Jonathan cannot be blamed for events of the last seven years, but he is part and parcel of them. There is so much work to be done by the Jonathan administration and electoral reforms are just one of them. How can one claim a lauding electoral reform on the background of multiple deaths recorded - the highest in the history of the nation’s electioneering activities.
Already other prominent Nigerians have reacted to this latest development, with Prof Ezeigbo of University of Lagos saying his rejecting the award should act as a challenge to every Nigerian whether in government or not. Nwachukwu Agbada, Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, ABSU saying “It means that there is something fundamental that is wrong with Nigeria. My contribution is that what is wrong with Nigeria has not been touched since Achebe rejected the first award by Obasanjo in 2004.”
Achebe’s stance is that the Jonathan Administration needs to be up and running in resolving the multitude of problems befalling the nation presently ranging from insecurity to power to poor health and educational infrastructure to corruption. Instead of trying to defend past and present failures, his immediate and long-term response should be to readdress these burning issues that the literary giant has highlighted with all sense of urgency and reject any signs of failure from heads of ministries, parastatals managing these sectors.
Until when all these are achieved, and with credible discernible signs to show that we are on the right path towards greatness as a nation, then will the Achebes of this world step out to receive national awards with pride, good conscience and decency and the nation also would be regarded in high esteem amongst the comity of nations. Till then, this remains a warning and disturbing sign on the government.
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