Awka, the capital of Anambra State stood still, yesterday, as
the body of the literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe arrived the
state for its final journey to Ogidi, his home town, in Idemili North
Local Government Area. His remains will be interred later today.
The famous writer of Things Fall Apart, who died in Boston, United
States of America, USA, was flown into Enugu from Abuja and was finally
brought to Awka, at exactly 1.07pm.
Early morning rains which
started at about 6 am had welcomed the body of the late literary giant,
to Anambra State as the people prepared to troop into the Alex Ekwueme
Square in the state capital to attend ceremonies lined up for him by the
state government and the burial committees. By 7.00 am, a large number
of security operatives had taken positions while members of the Federal
Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were already directing traffic to
appropriate places.
The remains of late Achebe was brought in a
motorcade to the expansive Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, into the waiting
hands of his kinsmen, friends, colleagues and high profile delegates
from governments across the world.
Obi, Ngige lead mourners
Governor
Peter Obi and the senator representing Anambra Central in senate,
Achebe’s senatorial zone, Dr. Chris Ngige received Achebe’s body at
Amansea border between Enugu and Anambra states to a waiting crowd
comprising civil servants, politicians and journalists. The entourage
headed straight to the Alex Ekwueme Square where prayers and tributes
were offered.
The body lay in state at the middle of the square
and was surrounded by Achebe’s kinsmen wearing traditional attires with
red caps to match.
On ground to witness the solemn moment of
tribute anchored by actor Bob Manuel Udokwu were Chris Odom, Professor
Joneta Cole, Director of Smithsonian Institute, Washington; Prof. Scott
Meyers of Penguin Books, and Professor Justin Whelan of the University
of Cambridge, who represented the Arch bishop of Canterbury.
There
were also members of the Achebe family comprising his widow, Prof. Mrs.
Achebe, and his children- Dr. Ike Achebe, Prof Chinelo Achebe, Dr.
Chidi Achebe and Prof. Nwando Achebe.
In his glowing tribute to
Achebe, the Director of Penguin, Scott described the late writer as a
very great man of letters, whose works have had a succession of
influence across generations of writers.
He noted particularly the
influence of Achebe’s first three books; Things Fall Apart, Arrow of
God and No Longer At Ease, which he described as a “ trilogy of African
literature, stressing that “I have not seen others’ books or writers
that have been so studied and reprinted like Achebe and his works.
Among
other personalities that witnessed the Awka ceremony were Senator Ndoma
Egba, senate leader who led other senators namely, Senators Uche
Chukwumerije, Mohammed Magoro and Chris Ngige to represent the senate.
Anglican
Bishop of Awka, Rt. Rev Alex Ibezim, in his opening prayer said that
with the death of Achebe, things have fallen apart and what Nigerians
should pray for is the mercy of God.
According to the Bishop,
“Achebe’s death is a celebration of life because he achieved so much for
humanity. It is, however, mourning in a way because we will no longer
see him and this is painful.”
To the traditional ruler of
Ndikelionwu, Eze Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, himself a renowned author,
Achebe neither benefitted from any godfather, nor participated in the
looting of treasury, but worked hard to become an international figure.
Chairman
of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, Dr. Innocent
Onwubuya described Achebe as both a traditional person, having been the
president general of Ogidi Town Union and an academician who had done
the nation proud.
Others who paid tribute to Achebe include Igwe
Prof Laz Ekwueme, president of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA,
Prof Remi Raji; Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe Univerisity, Professor
Boniface Egboka; former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; Mr.
Chike Momah, who was Achebe’s classmate at both Government College,
Umuahia and University College, Ibadan.
Governor Peter Obi, in his speech, commended Nigerians for according the literary icon a deserving respect.
He
said that Achebe’s personality towered so high that no fewer than 12
heads of state sent condolence messages to him after his death and urged
Nigerians to emulate his lifestyle.
To the governor, the writer
had done his beat and that if there is indeed heaven, ‘Achebe will
definitely be there because he did his race so well.’
Ndigbo will miss him — Ohanaez
The
apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said yesterday,
that the departed literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe whose remains
would be finally laid to rest at his Ogidi country home in Anambra
State today, would be missed for a very long time.
The umbrella Igbo organization said Achebe’s departure has left a yawning gap in the horizon of the Igbo nation.
Secretary-General
of Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, who spoke with Vanguard on the demise of
the renowned author, said that the organization viewed Achebe’s exit as
“very tragic” and would not be forgotten easily.
He said:
“Achebe’s departure is a traumatic blow to Ndigbo and indeed Africans.
Though 82 is a ripe age, we would have wanted him to live forever. His
demise has left a yawning gap in our horizon. We will miss him a lot and
for a long, long time. He cannot be forgotten too easily because he is
the man who put our essence into sharp focus with his magnum work-
Things Fall Apart. Therein he re-established the long damaged self
confidence and psyche of the Africans who had been plummeted by colonial
powers into seeing themselves as less than human.”
“Achebe showed
that the African has history, religion, philosophy, government (law and
order), art, good music and all fabric of a civilized society.
Thereafter no one could see the African from colonial eyes only nor
could anyone write about us for us.
“Achebe has started
renaissance or rebirth. Africans could now tell their real story by
themselves confidently. He was a genius and among his peers he was a
colossus.
“We are extremely happy and proud that this titan was of
Igbo stock. He has done the continent proud and he has lit a light that
will beam everywhere. His memory will remain evergreen in our hearts,
Ndigbo wish Achebe, the guru, peaceful repose in the bosom of our Lord.”
To
the young generation of Ndigbo, Nwaorgu said they should emulate Achebe
as role model known for maintaining core Igbo values, justice, equity,
courage and enterprise or resourcefulness.
Source:
vanguardngr.com
