Playwright and poet, Greg Mbajiorgu, has called for peace among Nigerian writers. He asked them to stop fighting over elective positions into the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), their umbrella body.
ANA has been riven by conflict since last November following a botched election at the 38th annual convention held in Enugu, Enugu State.
Accusations and counter-accusations of alleged plans to rig by supporters of the four presidential aspirants –Camillus Ukah, Ahmed Maiwada, Ofonime Inyang and Chike Ofili on Saturday, November 2, the day of the election, led to its postponement.
The electoral committee comprising Professors Akachi Ezigbo and Remi Raji, Odia Ofeimun, Okeyendo Diego and Yemi Adebiyi was given 180 days, according to ANA’s constitution, to conduct a fresh election at a neutral venue.
But peace has continued to elude the Association as two elections producing two different executive councils have held this year.
Maiwada and Akogun Tai Oguntayo emerged National President and General Secretary of at a convention held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in March. Others elected alongside them were Professor Ngozi Chuma Udeh (Vice President), Patrick Oguejiefor (Assistant General Secretary), Owupele Francis (Treasurer) and Usho Smith Adamu (Financial Secretary).
The rest were Banma Suleiman (PRO, North), Otunba Dada Korede (PRO, South), Dr Moses Joseph (Auditor) and Isa Ibrahim Dan Musa (ex-officio 2). Twenty state chairpersons of ANA conducted the Abuja election.
However, another election reportedly held in Makurdi, Benue State on July 17. It birthed the Camillus Ukah\Farida Waziri ANA National Executive Council.
But speaking in an interview with TCN, Mbajiorgu, who teaches Drama at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said writers should focus on their art instead of bickering like politicians.
He said, “Let’s stop fighting over mundane issues, let’s spend more of our strengths and creative power turning out books that will change the ugly trends in our nation. I don’t understand why authors should behave like the very greedy and senseless politicians they checkmate and re-direct. As far as our profession is concerned, posterity will only remember us for our great works, not for our political intrigues or Machiavellianistic traits.”
Mbajiorgu further advised that the writers shouldn’t allow the 36.9 hectares ANA land in Abuja, given to it in 1985 by the late General Mamman Vatsa, become a curse to the Association. He asked them to shun greed and guide against becoming a disgrace to ANA’s founding fathers.
“It appears the Mamman Vasta’s gift to authors has become more of a burden than a blessing to ANA. The politicisation of our Association today stems from a selfish struggle to control what is left of the Mpape ‘treasure’. Those icons (Achebe, Soyinka, J.P Clark, etc.) whose accomplishments compelled Vasta to donate the at land to authors are not known for material acquisition.
“Until we stop enacting Professor Jonah Onuoha’s ‘tout theory of politics’ at ANA’s annual conventions, authors of international reputation will continue to avoid our gatherings.”