I write this letter with a very heavy heart. For some time now, I have watched events in Nigeria with alarm and dismay.I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state of Anambra, where a small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connection in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom. I am appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of the Presidency. 'Forty three years ago, at the first anniversary of Nigeria's independence, I was given the first Nigerian National Trophy for Literature. In 1979, I received two further honours ' the Nigerian National Order of Merit and the Order of the Federal Republic ' and in 1999 the first National Creativity Award. 'I accepted this honours fully aware that Nigeria was not perfect; but I had a strong belief that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse people. Nigeria's condition today under your watch is, however, too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in 2004 Honours List' So long a letter one would say. That was the letter of 'honour' written by Chinua Achebe to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, on his reason for declining the National Honour offered him. A couple of days ago, Professor Chinua Achebe, Africa's frontline novelist, for the second time in a decade, rejected another national honour given to very eminent and distinguished persons in Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan had deemed it fit to honour Achebe with a national honour ' Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). And expectedly, Achebe rejected it. Undoubtedly, Achebe has positively and tremendously affected his immediate society - Nigeria and the world in general. His book, 'Things Fall Apart' has been translated into about 50 major languages of the world; and it's being read till date. Achebe is globally recognised as one of the world's most outstanding novelists and intellectuals of his time. So, if Achebe is not recognised in Nigeria with a national honour, I bet, nobody should be given one in Nigeria. In the last 12 years of Nigeria, national honours have been offered so many Nigerians of good character and unquestionable character alike; such that one begins to wonder if the honour is worth it at all. The reason for rejecting the national award, as far as the professor of 'Things Fall Apart' fame was concerned, is not far-fetched. In 2004, just like ever before, Achebe complained bitterly about the parlous state of Nigeria and charged the then President Obasanjo to make efforts to fix the country; only then should we be talking about offering national awards to individuals who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields vis a vis the political and socio-economic state of Nigeria. In Achebe's words to President Jonathan: 'The reason for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed let alone solved. It is inappropriate to offer it again to me. I must therefore regretfully decline the offer again'. The honour is haram. Haram, an Arabic term means 'forbidden'. In Arabic-speaking countries, saying 'haram' can mean, 'what a shame' or 'what a pity'. Thus it is haram for somebody of Achebe's stature to accept such honours that cannot address the sorry state of his dear nation.The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which was built in the mid-70s has suffered serious maintenance neglect. The Expressway which ideally should be meant for moving vehicles now doubles as a parking lot for all sizes of articulated vehicles (trailers). To say it has become a deathtrap is to say the least. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, no doubt is the busiest dual carriageway in Nigeria; but ironically, the most pot-holed, which many social commentators have harped on to get the attention of the government ' such is the decrepit Awka Expressway in Enugu State which has confined our great Achebe to a wheelchair since 1990. The near-fatal accident took place on Awka Expressway. The car fell on him breaking his spine. Yet, Achebe begrudged nobody, but simply thanked God ' saying: 'I was hurt, but my thought was ok'. For like five decades, Achebe has written about the ills in our society; first x-raying the bastardisation of African culture by the Europeans warlords and later lampooning the West African governments; particularly Nigerian government. In Achebe's 'Anthills of the Savannah, set in an imaginary West African State, there is Sam, the central character, a trained military officer, who becomes President. Chris and Ikem Osodi, Sam's childhood friends, die resisting brutal abuse of power. A military coup eventually eliminates President Sam. The same abuse of power is what is being exhibited in Nigeria today. There had been military leaders who had dug the grave of their civilian friends ' all because of abuse of power. Ken Saro Wiwa, the great environmentalist, whose 16th anniversary was recently celebrated, was killed because he resisted the abuse of power by his leaders. Whereas, the leaders were supposed to get the nation fixed, they booted all perceived oppositions into their graves. It's shocking that the leadership of Nigeria is still busy offering National Honours whilst other serious nations are busy fixing their countries. There's been so much misplacement of priorities in this country. Our leaders are always putting the cart before the horse. If a Chinua Achebe, who complained in 2004 to the then President Obasanjo to drop the so-called National Honours List and its funfest but fix Nigeria, particularly his home state, is being still offered another National Honour in 2011 by President Jonathan, when those things Achebe complained about are still left undone, then something must definitely be fundamentally wrong. It has taken three successive Presidents in the last 10 years to approve an ordinary plan to fix the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. President Obasanjo started the concession, late President Yar'Adua awarded it to Bi-Courtney, and Jonathan approved the Bi-Courtney model plan. Which president would now ask Bi-Courtney to hit the road and get it fixed' Is it when all Nigerians would have been killed on that 'gullyway' called expressway' The roads are in very bad shapes; yet all Nigerians are being charged to do is to start using the new driver's licence and number plates for their vehicles. They said the introduction of the new driver's licence and number plates became imperative so that Nigeria could conform to international standard. By the way, have Nigerian expressways conformed to international standards' If not, why use internationally-recognised vehicle number plates on expressway that cannot even measure up to a boulevard in Senegal or Ghana' If only the Nigerian government of the day in 1990 had fixed the Awka Expressway, may be, our erudite English Professor, Chinua Achebe, would not have had that near-fatal accident that now perpetually confines him to a wheelchair. The leadership of this country should do the first thing first and stop patching the expressway with sand that would soon be washed away by the wind. Nigerians only demand to have 24/7 electricity supply that they are even ready to pay for. Or are they asking for too much' The leadership of this country should, for now, stop offering this national honours that have not and may not add any value to this nation and its people. This honour is haram.
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