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Tributes As Academia Honour Elechi Amadi
Stakeholders, especially the academia have paid glowing tributes to the shining legacies of late literary giant of Africa, Elechi Amadi, and challenged the present generation of young Nigerians to emulate the exemplary virtues and qualities of the author and novelist as a veritable means of contributing meaningfully to the development of the country.
They said this at a book presentation, titled: ‘In A Blaze Of Glory: Creative Tributes To Elechi Amadi,’ in honour of late Elechi Amadi at ‘The Crab,’ Delta Park, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, last Thursday.
Speaking at the book presentation, the reviewer and a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Chidi Maduka tasked Nigerians to always show respect to late author and novelist, Chief Elechi Amadi by attending events organized to honour the legacies of the literary icon as a show of appreciation for his contributions to development of African art and literature.
“There is no other African novelist who has surpassed Amadi as a perceptive depicter of man’s struggle for survival in a world where cosmic forces often play an enigmatic role in human life,” Maduka said, stressing that the memorable legacy of Elechi Amadi to the transformation of the literary landscape in Africa was legendary.
Maduka added that his literary works had placed Nigeria in the World Map, and stressed that it was high time all Nigerians, especially politicians emulate the good legacies of Elechi Amadi.
He pointed out that Elechi Amadi started very early in life in Mathematics and Physics, then switched to Applied Science, noting that he became a living scientist as he kept telling people that the gods were important.
Also speaking, Emeritus Prof Otonti Nduka described the literary icon as “a great man, a great Nigerian, a modest man”, adding “We know who is who, and we know our class. He certainly immortalised his name by impacting the society with his literary works.”
Former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof Nemi Briggs described Elechi Amadi as a colossus in Literary Arts world, saying, “Science takes its roots from Arts; the scientists take their thinking from arts. I now have very deep respect for the arts. Elechi Amadi studied science and saw something very bigger in arts. I docked my mind to it,” and advised the Nigeria youth to read very deep in order to exercise their minds.
Another former Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof Joseph Ajienka described Elechi Amadi as “A celebrated writer and a blessing to this part of the world”, advising that, “Everyone should celebrate him as he was gifted in arts.”
The Chairman of the occasion, and Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof Femi Shaka described the event as “A celebration of an icon, role model and an achiever per excellence. That we are celebrating Elechi Amadi today is a testament to the fact that we give him due honour.”
The chairman, who was represented by a professor in Theatre and Film Studies, Emmanuel Emasealu also used the opportunity to describe the wife of Elechi Amadi, Dr Priye Iyalla-Amadi as “A fine example of a lady of substance, vision, tolerance, endurance, hard work and source of inspiration to humanity.”
In his remarks, Rector of Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, near Port Harcourt, Dr Samuel Kalagbor described Elechi Amadi as “A literary giant and an elegant scholar”.
Kalagbor noted that there were so many ways of celebrating a genius, emphasizing that one of the ways was to immortalize their names through monuments, event centres, government-owned institutions, among others, adding that that the change of the name of the Port Harcourt Polytechnic to Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, was part of that effort.
“The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike deemed it necessary to change the name of the institution from Port Harcourt Polytechnic to Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt because he felt that this was one sure way of immortalizing the literary giant of Africa,” he said.
In her response, the wife of the literary giant, Dr Priye Iyalla-Amadi stated that “I was inspired to put together the pieces that have become a book today in my darkest hours when I heard my husband saying ‘darling, wipe your tears, I am with you.’
“If I am so involved in celebrating Elechi Amadi after death, it is because while alive, he married me well, he was a good husband, he took good care of me. So, I will continue to do my best to keep his memory alive.”
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana & Reliance Ezimora
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.