Elechi Amadi, A Literary Giant -Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has described the late literary Icon, Captain Elechi Amadi, as an illustrious son who combined science and literature to promote the development of the society.

Speaking during the staging of selected plays in honour of the late Saga at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, to mark the beginning of series of events slated for his burial, Wike said although Captain Elechi Amadi was a graduate of Physics and Mathematics, he ventured into Literature and became a literary giant.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, stated that the literary works of late Captain Elechi Amadi were purely indigenous to Africa in contrast to what is obtainable in the western world.

He noted that late Captain Elechi Amadi has written not less than twelve plays and novels, stressing that his books are very educative and have affected positively the life of many people in society.

According to him “in the academia, many have obtained their First degrees, Masters degrees and doctors of Philosophy degrees by studying the literary works of late Captain Elechi Amadi, therefore, as we gather here today at this historic moment to honour the late literary giant by staging two of his works, Isiburu and the Great Pond, we should reflect on the positive contributions of this great son of Rivers State.”

The governor urged the people of Rivers State not to see the events slated for the burial of Captain Elechi Amadi as another display of talent but that they should rather be touched by his demise and see how they can learn from his works and apply the principles contain therein to mitigate the numerous social problems bedeviling the society.

He recalled that the late Captain Elechi Amadi was not just only a scientist and literary giant, he also served the state as a permanent secretary, commissioner for education, commissioner for lands and housing, lecturer at the then Rivers State College of Education, and chairman, Rivers State Scholarship Board, among others.

The governor opined that the late Captain Elechi Amadi’s footprints on the sand of time are too numerous to exhaust, and further described him as a great man, a true son of Rivers State who brought several honour and accolades to the state, contending that the state government has no option than to accord him a state burial.

He called on all sons and daughters of Rivers State to participate fully in the burial activities of late Captain Elechi Amadi to give him the honour he deserves, and commended the chairman and members of the burial committee and members of the bereaved family for their co-operation.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and former governor of the state, Sir Celestine Omehia, said the staging of two selected plays by late Captain Elechi Amadi to herald the activities for his burial is to bring back to the memory lane of who the late literary Icon really was.

Omehia noted that the late Captain Elechi Amadi brought the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, Rivers State, Nigeria and Africa on the World Map of literary works, and lauded the state government for giving him a state burial as mark of honour for his contributions to the development of Nigeria and Rivers State in particular.