Opinion: Achebe was a seer, even if they sneered at him

by Ayokunle Odekunle

Chinua-Achebe1

Through the source and course of history, we have been regaled with the tales and legends of prophets who were not appreciated during their time; from the very early time of Noah who warned his people of an impending flood disaster which was being planned by the Almighty God to punish mankind, Noah was sneered and laughed at by those whose interest he was serving. He laughed last. Let us fast forward to the time of our Lord Jesus Christ who predicted the happenings of today in Matthew. He was laughed at by those that lived in those days. Those of us living now cannot laugh because all what Jesus predicted in MATTHEW 24 are coming to pass now. Holy Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W)? He told people that he would be the LAST PROPHET. Many laughed at him. We are not laughing now because indeed and in deed, he is the last prophet.

So you see, history has taught us about prophets who were never appreciated in their time but were appreciated after becoming dust and bone or resurrecting or after going to heaven via a Chariot of fire.

The FATHER of African Literature (Capitalization intended) , Chinua Achebe was one. Apart from being the second most influential African after Nelson Mandela, he was a seer… a prophet who as short as a midget saw things which giants standing on Iroko trees never saw. Of course, he was never respected in his homeland. My fellow Yorubas derided him because he dare take their ‘hero’ Awolowo (Not my hero though) to the cleaners. Hausas hated him because he dared say the truth about the country’s existence. Non-sentimental people however admired him as a giant.

He wasn’t only a giant; he was like a river in the Desert! A rare breed.

I would attempt to briefly examine his political views and how they have come to bear in our present lives and political biosphere.

Chinua Achebe always believed that the Igbos are/were victimized in this country. After releasing his WORLD FAMOUS bestseller ‘There was a country’, many Yoruba men (I am a Yoruba man) who had not even read the book but who relied on gists they heard in paraga joints condemned him, just because he took a swipe at ‘their’ leader AWOLOWO. To them, Achebe was an ethic bigot.

To be sincere, we need to ask ourselves pertinent questions: were the igbos not massacred during the civil war? Are they still not being massacred? Are they still not being marginalized?

Achebe claimed in his book that the Igbos are the most industrious and illustrious people in Nigeria. My fellow Yorubas were sad because of that statement. Was he lying? Are the Igbos not the most travelled tribe in Nigeria? Are they not the most illustrious and most hardworking?

Are they still not being marginalized? How come the East has the LOWEST presence of Federal presence and Multinational investments? How come an Igbo man has never become President or has never ever been considered…and might never be considered?

Achebe never believed in one Nigeria. Still, many saw him as unpatriotic. But if we are going to be truthful, is there one Nigeria? Has there ever been one Nigeria? Why are Asari Dokubo and Ango Abdullahi at each other’s throats today? If truly there is one Nigeria, how come we are talking about zoning? How come we have OPC, Bakassi Boys, Boko Haram, Jamb, Egbesu Boys, Arewa Consultative Union, Massob?

Why?

Furthermore, Achebe believed that the Nigerian political establishment is/was out and out corrupt and he refused to identify with them. When he rejected National Awards twice, he was abused. Born Again activist FEMI FANI KAYODE I remember insulted him when he rejected the awards during Obasanjo’s tenure. Achebe rejected the National awards because Governance in Nigeria is flawed.

With the happenings of today, has Achebe not being vindicated? Does corruption not hold sway in all facets of Governance? Is Democracy in Nigeria not a caricature of how it should be ideally? Ehn??

Furthermore, Achebe believed that we should not forget the religions of our forefathers. To him, religion was one of the tools the British used to dividing us (That was the main message in his African Number One Bestseller THINGS FALL APART). Taking a cursory look at our society today, is religion not dividing us? Has it not divided us? Will it not divide us further? Were we so divided when we worshipped our Ancestral gods? Where we? Now, we have a sharp divide between Christians and Muslims. Within Christians sef, we have divisions. The Catholics on a side, Anglicans on another, Protestants on another. Catholics cannot marry non-Catholics. Within protestants, we have divisions, Deeper life have different doctrines from Redeemers, MFM have different doctrines from the Lord Charismatic movement. I can go on and on.

Musli7ms? Terrorism Is blamed on them because some fanatics kill in the name of Allah. The Northen Muslims see Southern muslims as infidels, we have Sunnis and Shiites.. Extremists and the normal Muslims. I can go on and on.

So, has Achebe been vindicated? YES! When he asked us to worship our ancestral gods, many ‘converts’ said he wants us to go to hell because the Bible and Quran have said we must believe in Jesus/Mohammed before we make heaven. Are we not divided because of religion today?

When he rejected National awards, he was called names. The reasons he gave for rejecting the awards, do they not subsist till now?

Don’t the Igbos still suffer? Are they not the most hardworking people in Nigeria as he said (I witnessed a lot of Igbo industry when I served briefly at Nguzu Edda,Afikpo South, Ebonyi State). Are not being marginalized? Are my fellow Yorubas still not as arrogant as ever as he inferred in his memoir?

Say what you can, but that late sage, that prophet you refused to honour at home, that FATHER OF AFRICAN LITERATURE now lies less than 6 feet, a companion of worms and termites. He has made his mark, his name would never go into oblivion. Things fall apart would still be read thousands of heard from now. His prophecies shall still come to pass.

By the time we would be realizing his worth, by the time his prophecies start coming to pass in full FORCE, we would wish we never sneered or ignored him. By that time though, it would be too little too late.

While we were chasing the chicken, trying to make him fall, the Chicken triumphed and he would keep triumphing even in death, just as the Igbos say “OCHU NWA OKUKO NEW ADA, NWA OKUKO NEW NGWAGWA OSO!”

Comments (5)

  1. Every Time just midway into readin it for the umpteenth time I had to Scroll up to the writers name just so I’d be sure the name the remained a yoruba name…this piece is about the most lucid and only bigotry devoid piece I’ve ever Seen..this is just the S.I unit of detribalism…nice piece Ayokunle Odekunle…wot masterpiece of deductive reasoning!!

  2. This has to be one of the best write-ups I have seen on d internet as of recent! The word-play is exceptional!

  3. i cant believe a Yoruba man wrote this. this is BRILLANT!

  4. Great piece from a true Nigerian….No sentiment give honour to whom honour is due and say the truth…I have so many yoruba role models but it does’nt stop me from critically looking at the devilish actions of Awo and Gowon…Achebe was a Hero and will remain so, As for the Igbos God will vindicate us..For Nigeria am sorry but its just a time bomb..200million people living on self denial…wait it will explode

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