Literary giant, Chinua Achebe, has once again rejected a conferment on him of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the federal government. In a statement today, Achebe explained why:
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". ~Prof. Chinua Achebe.
President Jonathan responded by issuing a statement today via his spokesperson Reuben Abati...
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.
As reflected in the immense improvements recorded in the conduct of the last general elections which were applauded within and outside the country as the most credible elections in Nigeria in recent years, the Jonathan Administration has made tremendous efforts to positively change the political architecture complained about by Prof. Achebe and other Nigerians.
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, believing that governance will be greatly enhanced in the country if the will of the people prevails at elections.
While President Jonathan acknowledges that there are still challenges in the path of Nigeria’s attainment of its full potentials as a nation, he believes that his Administration is moving the country in the right direction and therefore deserves the support, encouragement and cooperation of all citizens.
The President continues to hold Prof. Achebe in very high esteem in spite of his regrettable decision which may have been borne out of misinformation as to the true state of affairs in Nigeria and hopes that he will find time to visit home soon and see the progress being made by the Jonathan Administration for himself.
Prof. Achebe remains in President Jonathan’s consideration, a national icon, a Nigerian of high attainments, indeed one of the greatest living Africans of our time.
Thoughts?
53 comments:
my own be say their nose is hugeeeeeeeeee.as for d matter at hand,na dem sabi
He has had it all.He has seen it all and I think it is honourable for him to decline such award. Great lesson to learn from this
..A few good men in Nigeria after all. I salute u Elder Chinua Achebe.
God bless big daddy chinua Achebe for refusing dat title, wots d essence of being honoured in a country dat is nt moving forward, jonathan dey madt.
this it is not the first time he is rejecting a national award
i think GEJ should get his priorities right
www.huntella.com
twitter @huntellagadgets
Na wah of daddy Achebe!Nigeria no go turn to our dreams overnight.. He shud plz av a rethink cos we need to encourage d leaders as well
For a country like Nigeria, electoral reforms is commendable but we must not stop there. We must continue to move forward. Professor Achebe expects that we should be way better than we are at the moment and no one can blame him. On the one hand it may be that he is expecting too much, on the other he may be rightly justified. All we can do is strive to be better human beings and better Nigerians. Chinua Achebe is an icon, but he isn't the only Nigerian in the whole world, he is just one person. If he doesnt want a national honour I suggest our President move and stop seeking validation from him.
prof. Achebe did the right thing,as a respectable man of integrity.how can u boycott the numerous challenges we are facing in this country,and still go ahead bestowing people with honours.#right thing at the wrong time#.first deal with boko haram,make nigeria a good living place,then u can talk about honours*an advice*
I'm with Prof. Chinualumogu(God will fight for me) Achebe in this. He's simply the quintessence of integrity. Wish we had more of him in this our backward sycophants-ridden nation.
linda abeg check out this tribute video of mc loph by flavour. Beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlGQZkdUO1A
prof. Achebe did the right thing,as a respectable man of integrity.how can u boycott the numerous challenges we are facing in this country,and still go ahead bestowing people with honours.#right thing at the wrong time#.first deal with boko haram,make nigeria a good living place,then u can talk about honours*an advice*
this picture of my president is so not gud..common linda, aint there a beta pix to use?or is he rily goin thru stress dt has turned him dis black??wow!!
The title should've been 'Jonathan gets his ass whupped by Achebe..Again!!'
..dont u think??..lol
With the extent to which these leaders lie, I can't help but conclude that they have assumed that we Nigerians are so dumb...which stupid reforms? The have only reformed our security into the hands of Boko Haram. Idiots.
all i see is reuben abati as spokesman
What's wrong with Jonathan's corneas? They're so brown!
I admire Prof. Achebe for turning down this award. He's a man of principle.
papi well done --- but these oloribrukus ruling us shld take this as a time to reflect and address the issues raised --- i no wan talk becos these ss boys dey monitor gani ooh , my pickins still small jona carry go
Baba,,,,,May your days on Earth be long......Amen.
Elder Chinua Achebe,
You are one of the few Nigerians in and out Nigeria that "GREAT".
Dis one evrybodi spoke in unison here. Mmmm.
lollz @ anonymous 9:28,u r just hilarious.....still lollll chei....but broda Jona own big pass ooo
This president should be sent to the firing squad. He has failed us, not only as our president but as a human being.If he knew he couldn't chew presidency, he shouldn't have beaten it off. Onofia
Na wah o
Good people, Great nation.
We are not all fluff after all , huge lesson to be learnt from Papa Achebe.
A good name is worth its weight in gold.
First Elder Achebe rejected the award 7yrs ago on the ground of political situation in Anambra and Nigeria in general. All these things still pervade today despite the so called reform all bcos of corruption. There is no motorable federal road in South East.
Second, the election that brought Jonathan to power is the worst, the costliest, and deadliest election so far and the same fraud still existed during the Lagos State LG election.
Third, I am happy with the tone of the President reaction compared to the reaction 7 yrs ago.
As much as I agree with the Elder on principles I am sorry I still see a little crack in his nobiltiy. Where is he? Living comfortably outside Nigeria.Why? I do not know but maybe if he was here he would have better contributions to make towards the prosess of getting things as he would like it to be. My thots.
Haba Mr President, na by force????? Leave Chinua Achebein peace jor and go sorth your s*it out, not trying to pull ppl into a mess you created.
ruben abati has sold his soul. to think of all the things he wrote about GEJ when he was running to all the insults he gave him to now washing his dirty linen. that just shows that money talks. i trust not a soul in politics an i should know i'm into it
they should be working and not giving out awards because it tickles their fancy abeg.
i think is better to go after one see that will give the world a better fruit. Chinua Achebe is not that kind of person that say yes to you and say no in your back, he want the best every soul in Nigeria his expectations is beyond thinking of the President of the Nigeria itself. they say if you wash your hand well you can eat with the elders. Jonathan wash your hands well you know what to do.
WHY DOES JONATHAN LOOK HORRIBLE IN THAT PICTURE ABI IS IT MY EYES
@HUNTELLA,BADA IS THAT U?*waving*
A man of honour!
REUBEN Abati,,,hummmmmmm, God will continue to enlarge ur coast sir 4 rejecting this award!!!i cant still seem to understand our OGA,,,,PLS OGA GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT!NA TENURE ENLONGATION OGA WANT,,, D RECENT SCHOOL FESS HIKE IN LASU STILL BAFFLES ME,,,IMAGINE FROM 25K TO 300K,, AND WE STILL GET LEADRERS 4 THIS COUNTRY????? GOD PLSS DELIVER US FROM EVIL TENURE PROLONGMENT
Ada- i don't think it matters where he lives. Whether in Nigeria or in America, he would still live comfortably and still be a man with integrity.
Re-living abroad, it was mostly due to this culled from WIKI.
On 22 March 1990, Achebe was riding in a car to Lagos when an axle collapsed and the car flipped. His son Ikechukwu and the driver suffered minor injuries, but the weight of the vehicle fell on Achebe and his spine was severely damaged. He was flown to the Paddocks Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England, and treated for his injuries. In July doctors announced that although he was recuperating well, he was paralyzed from the waist down and would require the use of a wheelchair for the rest of his life
Plus his children can look after him properly.
TAH!Baba Achebe abeg decline that invitation too oh!Education is extra expensive, the roads are still bad, no EMPLOYMENT(well except you are EXTRA connected, constant power failure, consistent corruption from the top,self employment now takes the form of armed robbery, kidnapping, yahoo yahoo,piracy...let me spare you the rest.If you come dem go kidnap you oh so just stay back.
As for GEJ, I pray God will give him the wisdom to lead Naija better, his luck stopped being good after the elections.
But then I still have faith in Naija maybe not now(by now I mean 100 years later) but some day, some how Nigeria's gonna be great.
ADA, The great prof made his mark while living here in Nigeria (Nsukka). He used his brains and heart and never made a dime from your corrupt govt. He relocated to the west after a ghasty motor accident on your death traps called roads in Nigeria. Presently, and for more than 20years, he has been on a wheel chair. Would he have survived and in good frame of mind if he had remained in Nigeria after that fatal accident? Nonsense!
some say daddy Achebe is expecting too much!! right now am smh for such people! the truth is that we Nigerians don't even know our right if we did, some of us won't talk the way we are. we are living in one of the most blessed country you can think of in the world in terms of natural resources and lack of natural disasters yet we are the poorest.we now so much used to hardship that if someone that knows his right should clamor for it he would be left standing alone. we have issues upon issues, serious issues yet the so-called-president Jonathan could not pick from just one at least. what has he done about electricity,incessant killings of innocent youth corp members, infact shouldn't they propose scrapping of the useless scheme? increasing rate of unemployment, the useless incipient called minimum wage? the useless police officers terrorizing motorists but private and commercial drivers for a hundred naira? kidnappers are not even afraid of police cos they work together? how about our useless health care centers? if we have one! medical practitioners who are more interested in the money rather saving lives? do they even have equipment and machinery? these idiotic politicians fly abroad to be treated by Nigerian doctors? isn't that insanity? removal of oil subsidy!! why can't they slash that absurdly salary and allowance of theirs? LASU fees from 25k to 250k??? please people where is the sense in that? Nigeria is a sinking boat and am not sure i want to wait around for it to sink. nobody is ready to do anything about it! parents cannot come as one to demand that they scrap NYSC! its killing young and innocent souls!! if u decide to protest thinking you have supporters you 'll find yourself standing alone. i can bet you that Jonathan would come out for second term, these same masses who are suffering would campaign for him and he would win!!! Nigerians vote by tribe, popularity and money!! if there's a honest man with the good of the people in mind and he does not have money to bribe or would not bribe, then he can't make it through the first election!! where do i stop? the list is endless and am tired of typing!!
well done Prof.....the award doe snot even have value again...thy now give it to any aki or pawpaw (no pun intended o)and by d way why is GEJ looking like monkey wey lick lime??????
a man of honour does not need any more aclaim to feel honourable; nonetheless one given by hypocrites.
this man has the right 2 say YES or NO to any award,so lets stop blowing ds out of proportion...Jonathan isnt doin a good job so its only natural that a well respected man as Prof, says NO to any award from him.........JONATHAN go put ur house in order and stop complaining.EKENE
Am I the only one that thinks Jonathan looks like an urang-utan?
He is obviously living in a fool's paradise if he feels that his administration is making progress.
Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) also rejected OFR and in the pat Gani rejected also.
I commend these men. What is the worth of national honors if you cannot stand for national change.....
To the person who is asking why Achebe lives in the US, it is due to your govts lack of good infrastructure that caused him to be paralyzed. Add the govts insensitivity to disabled folks where buildings are not made to be wheel chair friendly.
Ok I was about to answer why Achebe lives abroad but I see that has been answered... if we had good medical facilities, maybe he would be home... gerrit?
Hahaha!! That picture of Mr. President is simply hilarious!
Cheap award that everyone gets now.
Shey una know say some people dey pay for am. A few yrs ago someone approached my dad and some others to pay a certain amount, and he declined.
Even today Achebe is known more than Pres Goodluck around the world, no honour can beat that. That award does absolutely nothing for him.
Pappy achebe,perhaps if u wernt in God knows where with your stuck up nose in snow,u wld b hia to c the little changes going on!I hate it when pipl abroad criticize and make dumb comparisms bout our country.u want drastic change so bad,den yall. Come run in any election...smh!
Pappy achebe,perhaps if u wernt in God knows where with your stuck up nose in snow,u wld b hia to c the little changes going on!I hate it when pipl abroad criticize and make dumb comparisms bout our country.u want drastic change so bad,den yall. Come run in any election...smh!
Linda why u no post my comment were I said I know people who were soliciting money for award a few years ago.
Na true now
What's this nonsense about goodluck instituting electoral reforms? that was never his idea, it was ya'ardua's. This abati guy sef na confirm turn coat...as per chinua rejecting, i say thumbs up. What's the use of a national recognition in a country such as ours, have u guys checked the latest Human development index ranking? Nigeria is ranked 148 along side countries like iran and haiti.
@ Dee dee, the white part of the eye is called SCLERA not cornea....i'm just saying
lindaooooo!!! u no go kill person see d uly pic wey u GIVE GEG ABI NA CEG, GEJ
@Annon November 15, 2011 3:36AM
Papa Achebe got into an accident back in 2009 on Nigeria's nasty roads that has left him paralyzed from the waist down! Does our fucking country Nigeria have wheel chair access for the disabled? No they don't! So what is he coming there to do? Mr. Bruce who wants to run for governor was disqualified apparently because he did not grease enough palms. So many Nigerians abroad want to make a difference in shit hole Nigeria but the corrupt climate, poor infrastructure, and backward mindset of most Nigerians will make it an untoward task to accomplish.
oh men, our president dark oooooooooo. Beauty
na wa for dis una president o!! see as e be like palm wine tapper!! choi! smh! this guy be like all those village men wey dey tie wrapper sidon for inside compound dey drink palm wine and bush meat!lol! president of palm wine tappers assaciation wey marry presido of market women association.dis country no go kill person.mmmssssssssssscccccccccchhhhh!
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