Thank You, Nigerian Writers And Journalists
Nigerians have fought the good battle since the beginning of this dispensation of Yar’Adua-led government to this time of the year. It is not easy. Nigerian writers and journalists have in no less ways exhibited mettle on their intellectualities for economic, social and political coherence. And many politicians have disgraced themselves: the confessions they have made on how they looted Nigeria to enrich themselves. However, this is the last month of the year 2007, but not the last day of 2007. We are gradually drifting to the end when carols, gunshots, (tyre burnings) etc. would be heard and seen and people bidding 2007 bye and thanking God for A New Year.
But before the end, I would be doing my conscience injustice, my conscience would be somnambulistic and be tormented by the spirit of a writer that fights for societal good and against societal ills if I do not write to say thank you to the Nigerian writers and journalists for making my year till now no matter all the odds. They emboldened me and gave me hope when it seemed there was no hope. I am indebted to all of them!
The Nigerian writers and journalists were a source of inspiration and consolation to me through their voices and articles during the era the depot Obasanjo was enacting poison-tipped policies and was ruling Nigeria with rod and scorpion. Nothing was moving as it were supposed to, under the Obasanjo-led government, than official corruption and official killing and do-or-die politics.
The Nigerian writers and journalists brazenly woke-up to the occasion and challenged a lot of that shylockic government excesses that were detrimental to the well-being of Nigerians. Even when Obasanjo-led government seized two Nigerian journalists in the prison for the report on the presidential jet which government said was a seditious, Nigerian writer and journalists were not deterred by this ignoble act of Obasanjo-led government. They geared up to making sure that a child who said that the mother would not sleep, by crying all through the night, didn’t sleep too. The two journalists were later released. Bravo!
Among many feats of Nigerian writers and journalists, I can’t forget in a hurry also how they made sure that justice came the way of late Ann and other victims of Rev. King’s inferno through their reports. What about exposing what went (good?) and wrong during the political mishap called 2007 elections.
What they have done for Nigeria the inception of democracy in this country, most especially since this year, is indeterminate. I pray the government to implement the Freedom of Information Bill. Nigerian writers and journalists are no less people. I have wondered what Nigeria would have been like in the hands of the rapacious leaders if the Nigerian writers and journalists were not reporting! What about their reports on the Niger-Delta crisis? Though, they wouldn’t thank me to hearing that I love them all, and I hereby, also, thank my humble self for making impact.
We are wonderful people! I wish all of us and all Nigerians, A Happy X-Mass and A Happy New Year in advance. Thank you all!
Odimegwu Onwumere, is a poet and an author,
writes from Oyigbo, Rivers State. (08032552855 )