#Occupy Nigeria: Foremost Nigerian Novelist Chinua Achebe, Other Writers Declare Solidarity
Posted: January 8, 2012 - 19:30

Prof. Chinua Achebe
By SaharaReporters, New York
Foremost Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe and a group of Nigerian writers at home and abroad have signed a statement asking President Goodluck Jonathan and other political leaders to act immediately in order to avert the deterioration of the crisis in Nigeria.

The statement decried the escalation of sectarian violence, deplored "the state of lawlessness in certain parts of the nation" and described the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan administration as ill-advised.

The writers asked President Jonathan to release his plans to address the scourge of terror and also to appoint competent officials to head the various security agencies.

Below is a full text of the statement:


Statement of Solidarity with the Nigerian People


We are troubled by the turn of events in Nigeria, and hereby call on President Goodluck Jonathan and the rest of the country’s political leadership to take immediate steps to tackle the state of lawlessness in certain parts of the nation and address the sense trepidation and rage that has reached dangerous levels within the Nigerian populace.

Nigeria is witnessing a new escalation of sectarian violence, culminating in explosions that have killed or seriously wounded scores of people at churches and other centers of worship and local businesses.

As a people who lost two million citizens in a civil war, Nigerians must bring an urgent sense of history to the gloomy events. The country’s leadership should not view the incessant attacks as mere temporary misfortune with which the citizenry must learn to live; they are precursors to events that could destabilize the entire country.

We applaud President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in certain local government areas in four states. However, we have seen little indication that the country’s security and law enforcement agents are up to the task of protecting the lives and property of citizens in all parts of Nigeria.

Clearly, the sophistication and deadly impact of the terrorist attacks suggest an agenda to create widespread fear and, possibly, to foment anarchy or war. Mr. Jonathan has no greater duty than to ensure that Nigerians are safe wherever they live or visit within the country. He should demonstrate his recognition of that solemn duty, in our view, by doing the following:

(a) Outline both short and long term plans to comprehensively address the scourge of terror,
(b) Appoint competent and committed officials to head the various security agencies, and
(c) Serve as an agent to heal the many divisions plaguing Nigeria, and persuade all well-meaning people to enlist in the fight against festering violence.

Mr. Jonathan’s decision to remove fuel subsidies in the country at this time was ill-advised. Coming at the advent of the New Year, and barely a week after the gruesome Christmas Day attacks on worshippers, the policy has forced many Nigerian citizens to perceive his leadership as one that is both insensitive and possibly contemptuous of the mood of its people.

We stand with the Nigerian people who are protesting the removal of oil subsidy which has placed an unbearable economic weight on their lives. This action has clearly imposed an untenable and unfair burden on those segments of Nigerians who are already impoverished - subsisting on less than $2 a day. We call on Mr. Jonathan to immediately change course. By reverting to the old prices of petroleum products, Mr. Jonathan can work to diffuse tension in the country and exemplify the true servant leader who not only serves but also listens to his people. To insist on having his way, and to deploy state security and legal apparati to crush growing popular uprisings is to stamp on a highly valued tenet of democracy – the right to peaceful assembly – and to inadvertently promote greater violence in the country.

Mr. Jonathan’s administration has made a persuasive case that a few highly connected Nigerians have corruptly profited from fuel subsidy. The government should swiftly bring to justice those corrupt profiteers as well as the bureaucrats who aid and abet their unconscionable parasitic activities and economic sabotage.

We acknowledge President Jonathan’s recent announcement of 25% cut in the basic salaries of political office holders. But we believe that the move merely scratches the indefensible bloated salaries and allowances paid to Nigerian political officials. The president should also champion significant cuts in the huge cost of running the various tiers of government and the luxuries that have become the signature of those who ought to protect the commonwealth, serve the people, and not exploit them. Besides, the culture of corruption and impunity in official quarters constitutes a grave threat to national security and to the country’s effort to establish a democratic culture and  meaningful economic development.

Nigeria needs a return to relative calm to enable its people, and the Jonathan administration in particular, to focus on the task of combating the incubus of corruption, poverty and home-grown terrorism.



Signed by



Chinua Achebe                                   

Okey Ndibe

Nduka Otiono

Helon Habila

Akin Adesokan

Pius Adesanmi

Tess Onwueme

Obiora Udechukwu

Yinka Tella

                                    Richard Ali

Chiji Akoma

Paul Ugor

                                    Tolu Ogunlesi

                                    Samantha Iwowo

Idowu Ohioze

                                    Offiong Bassey




                                    Chido Onumah

                                    Bunmi Aborisade

                                    Omolade Adunbi

                                    Mahmud Obeamata

                                    Mahmud Aminu

Nasr Kura

Gimba Kakanda

                                    Obioma Nnaemeka

Sonala Olumhense

Ikhide Ikheola

Isidore Okpewho

E.C. Osondu

Ogaga Ifowodo

Mike Nwosu

Herbert Ekwe Ekwe

Chimalum Nwankwo

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

Ebenezer Obadare

Ahmed Maiwada

Madina Shehu

Hussein Abdu

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani

Source: http://saharareporters.com/news-page/occupy-nigeria-foremost-nigerian-novelist-chinua-achebe-other-writers-declare-solidarity

Which vote is more powerful and effective? The UN & EU or these selfless legendary luminaries?

. . .Na small small monkey dey go market, till him no go fit come back.

Well spoken.

What it takes for evil to succeed is when all good men fold their arms.

Kudos to Achebe, et al.

Rhino.5dm:

Which vote is more powerful and effective? The UN & EU or these selfless legendary luminaries?

. . .Na small small monkey dey go market, till him no go fit come back.

Did He not tell you in October last year that Obama was applauding him and clapping, urging him on and that we Nigerians are calling him name That tells you how shallow GEJ's mentality is and were His loyalty lies.

The excerpts below fairly jump at anyone who takes their time to actually read and digest the article:

Achebe: Mr. Jonathan’s decision to remove fuel subsidies in the country at this time was ill-advised. Coming at the advent of the New Year, and barely a week after the gruesome Christmas Day attacks on worshippers, the policy has forced many Nigerian citizens to perceive his leadership as one that is both insensitive and possibly contemptuous of the mood of its people.

In simple words, Achebe supports the removal, but not its timing. The timing is govts own card to play, cos they know their enemies best and strategise accordingly.

Achebe:
[size=14pt]Mr. Jonathan’s administration has made a persuasive case that a few highly connected Nigerians have corruptly profited from fuel subsidy. [/size] The government should swiftly bring to justice those corrupt profiteers as well as the bureaucrats who aid and abet their unconscionable parasitic activities and economic sabotage.

Nuff said.
I agree with the above. Now that the battle is open, the people MUST pour into the streets to support a lonely President in his battle against deeply entrenched interests, vultures, hyena's and the filthy creeping creatures of the night that hold a knife to the national jugular. GEJ cannot do it alone.

We MUST demand that heads roll and give our solid backing. In turn, the govt must do its utmost to transparently lighten the burden on the masses.

Beaf:

The excerpts below fairly jump at anyone who takes their time to actually read and digest the article:

In simple words, Achebe supports the removal, but not its timing. The timing is govts own card to play, cos they know their enemies best and strategise accordingly.

Nuff said.
I agree with the above. Now that the battle is open, the people MUST pour into the streets to support a lonely President in his battle against deeply entrenched interests, vultures, hyena's and the filthy creeping creatures of the night that hold a knife to the national jugular. GEJ cannot do it alone.

We MUST demand that heads roll and give our solid backing. In turn, the govt must do its utmost to transparently lighten the burden on the masses.

What Achebe said is what we have always hampered on all along! Yes Fule Subsidy MUST go eventually but not in this circumstance. The deceitful and dictatorial manner in which GEJ went about left #OccupyNigeria with no option than to bring the protest forward!

The advice given is simple: Heed to the call of Nigerians, reverse course for now, plan and engage Nigerians while the sign board is held up high that Fuel subsidy will go soonest. GEJ failed to listen to men of wisdom in Shagari and Gowon. Obasanjo also made a last minute appeal to him but He refused. Now His government will spend the remain part of her years figting mistrust. Who knows where the next week protest will bring. Total revoluation and chaos? No one knows but the desire if any is : Get rid of corruption and reduce cost of governance before #removefuelsubsidy.

Sir, you have to understand the mind set of a local "i have no shoe" champion. Na inferiority complex na him dey disturb the guy. Hillary clinton is more than God to him.

Mubarrak of Egypt was having full support of US, until it was too late for him. If mubarrak was placed in a cage, where do you think is more befitting for GEJ, a zoologist?! Your geuss is as good as mine.

Omo_Tier1:

Did He not tell you in October last year that Obama was applauding him and clapping, urging him on and that we Nigerians are calling him name That tells you how shallow GEJ's mentality is and were His loyalty lies.

Of course, the bone of contention for most people (if not everybody) is not the removal of the subsidy but the timing and manner of removal or things that should be in place before its removal.