Professor Chinua Achebe
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the death of literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, as a great loss to Nigeria and Africa.
Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Achebe has immortalized himself through his literary works which attained global importance and acceptance.
He said Achebe used his novels to positively project the image of Nigeria in the international community and advocated a better society through his works.
Fayemi, however, urged Nigerian authorities to address the problems afflicting the country which made Achebe to reject the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2004 and 2011.
He described Achebe as the Father of Modern African Writing, an activist who spoke against injustice and corruption, a role model to generations of writers whose works inspired the younger ones and paved the way for the emergence of a vibrant literary community.
The governor said Achebe’s books like Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, Man of the People and Anthills of the Savanna defined the literary world and announced Nigeria’s arrival on the global literary stage.
Achebe’s literary prowess, according to Fayemi, traversed Novels, Short Stories, Poetry, Essays, Criticisms, Non-Fiction, Political Commentary and Children Books. Fayemi noted that Achebe shone brightly in the literary world which made him to receive over 30 honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States.
The governor recalled that Achebe also excelled in broadcasting and rose to the pinnacle of the profession as the Director of External Broadcasting of the then Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBS) now known as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
He advised activists and other followers of Achebe not to relent in their quest for a better Nigeria where equity, justice, fairness, rule of law and true federalism are enthroned.
Last modified: March 22, 2013