Renowned writer Chinua Achebe is not a man that runs away from
controversy. In recent memory, his rejection of the national honours
bestowed on him by Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan's
administrations became subject of national debate.
He is in the eyes of the storm, again. His long awaited war memoirs '
There was a Country' , became public last week and, as expected,
Achebe is getting the hits for accusing the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo
of genocide in the book.
Below is the controversial excerpt from the book:
"It is my impression that Awolowo was driven by an overriding ambition
for power, for himself and for his Yoruba people.There is, on the
surface at least, nothing wrong with those aspirations."However,
Awolowo saw the dominant Igbo at the time as the obstacles to that
goal,and when the opportunity arose – the Nigeria-Biafra War – his
ambition drove him into
a frenzy to go to every length to achieve his dreams.
"In the Biafran case, it meant hatching up a diabolical policy to
reduce the numbers of his enemies significantly through starvation –
eliminating over two million people, mainly members of future
generations." Reactions from
the Southwest & beyond
Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, chieftain of the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere,
"It is a great error, he never said anything about what Awolowo did to
prevent the civil war," Ebenezer Babatope, former Transport and
Aviation Minister "While Achebe is free to write on any topic that
suits his fancy, he has no right whatsoever to irresponsibly murder
history by recklessly attacking a great leader like Papa Awolowo.
Nigerians should expect detailed, honest, factual and objective
replies to the Achebe nonsense after we have copies of the book in our
hands."
"This is not the first time that Achebe will publish scathing attacks
on Papa Awo. He did it in his book written about 30yrs ago titled 'The
trouble with Nigeria'. The battle against falsehood has started."
Dr. Omolulu Olulonyo, former Oyo state governor
"It is unfortunate that Professor Achebe could label Chief Awolowo as
a tribalist. Both Awo and Zik were members of the Nigerian Youth
Movement.
"He cannot begin now to blame Awolowo for the war. Awolowo did not
start the war; rather, he pleaded against it. The only thing that he
said then was that if, by any error, the Igbo were allowed to leave
the federation, Yoruba would also leave. "The civil war was started by
the Igbo. The Igbo, in the course of the war, killed many Yoruba and
Hausa/Fulani leaders, including Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji
Ahmadu Bello, Chief Ladoke Akintola, Festus Okotie-Eboh and many
officers, including. Ademulegun, Maimalari, leaving out their own,
like Micheal Okpara.
"Even while they were in government, (Ironsi's government), the Igbo
spared no thought of freeing Awolowo who was then in prison. So, why
should the man be now labeled a tribalist?",
Yinka Odumakin, Save Nigeria Group Spokesperson
"It is unfortunate that a great man of letters of Achebe's status has
descended to the arena
of Biafran propagandists who are always ready to sacrifice the truth
to achieve emotional blackmail. "He has betrayed his intellectual
calling by joining in the circulation of low quality rumours against
Awo. I had looked forward to read the book, but now I doubt if I would
pick
up a copy even if dropped at my gate."
Prof. Tony Afejukwu, an Itsekiri leader "I find the foremost novelist
lambasting of our iconic politician and impeccable leader, Chief
Awolowo utterly strange. But why should we really
be surprised? Even in death, Awo, our Awo, is still the issue. This
being said, we must dismiss the illustrious novelist who must sell his
autobiography! He needs to attack Awo
for the book to make appreciable sale, an inroad in western Nigeria of
solidly educated and civilized denizens. But his tactic will backfire
if truly that was an intention of Achebe, our respected, Achebe, who
with this unforgettable grudge of decades will lose a huge chunk of
respect of, and from discerning minds.
"Now we must ask: Did he expect Awo to device a strategy for Biafra to
defeat Nigeria? In any case, Achebe ought to promote peace,
understanding reconciliation and love as a foremost novelist of
Nigeria, Africa and theworld. he ought to be exemplary.
Join in the debate: Do you agree with Achebe 's portrayal of Awolowo
or has the author gone too far? Culled from vanguard
