I first met the late Professor Dorathy Nkem Akunyili, OFR (fondly called Dora) during her days as Honourable Minister of Information under former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory. At that time I was the Secretary of our ever vibrant Abuja Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). The Honourable Minister as she then was had invited members of the Association along with our patrons to a breakfast parley at the Sheraton Hotels.
The meeting was supposed to initiate a partnership between the literary community and the ministry of information for the purpose of ‘rebranding’ Nigeria our beloved country. For Dora, rebranding Nigeria involved patronizing home made goods and creating a conducive environment where Nigerians will make a decent living. It also involves the outside world seeing Nigeria as a country of hardworking patriots and not a country known to the international community as a den of scammers, thieves, prostitutes and all manners of vices known to humanity. Dora had good intention for her country. She wanted to change the unfavourable perception the world held Nigeria and Nigerians. Dora loved Nigeria. Dora want Nigerians to be respected anywhere they are in the world. Whatever flaw she may have as a human probably emanates from this passion.
My boss, Mrs Bilkisu Abdulmalik Bashir, OON Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission though a non- writer was very passionate about writers and their works and had been a major pillar upon which the Chapter stood. We naturally extended Dora’s invitation to her. But unable to attend, she directed her Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Chief Danjuma Randong to represent her for the proposed ‘get together’ of great minds.
At that point in time Professor Akunyili was at the middle of her revolution to rebrand Nigeria. Her slogan was ‘Nigeria, good people, great nation.’ The Great War was bent on turning Nigeria around for good at all cost and we writers equally saw the need to join in this campaign. It was hard not be infected by the bug. When she mounted the podium she told us why Nigeria must be rebranded. She also gave us a run-down of what she had done so far. May be it was a slip. She also told us that she had just contracted a British based publishing company to bring out her biography chronicling her life and achievements at NAFDAC as part of the rebranding campaign.
In response, the writers lost all sense of decency and practically took her to the cleaner. In fact we forgot we were addressing an Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Many of our members from the various Chapters including Niger state were there. One of them was particularly very angry and vocal. They were really piqued by this particular news of contracting the minister’s biography to a foreign based firm leaving Nigeria publishing companies begging for jobs to keep their employees. One writer after the other stood up and plainly told her it was pertinent to practice what she preached.
Somehow, the writers had their points. Our graduates of printing technology are out in the streets unemployed because Nigerians are patronising foreign printers. Our printing presses are idles because INEC and other government agencies are contracting the printing of ballot papers to firms based printing firms in South Arica, Europe and China. Rebranding must be real and not just on the airwaves of Radio Nigeria and Nigeria Television Authority. Government and Government officials must take the lead in the rebranding process for the masses to follow. Nigerian government must use locally assembled cars if we must engage our citizens and stop them from travelling to South Africa for fraudulent activities and smearing the name of their beloved country in the mud. Legislatures and new policies are not enough. Government must enforce them religiously. These were the messages of the writers at that forum.
At a point the hall became rowdy and matter almost came to a head but was saved by our then National President, Dr. Wale Okediran who stopped the ‘barrage of missiles’. Although the writers respected the President’s order to halt the missiles, we were glad we found our time to send our message which was that government should talk to us through their actions.
Unfortunately for the writers’ body, the late Minister did not take kindly to our stand and the confrontational posture that we took, though she promised the British publisher will do the job in partnership with a local publishing outfit. We were not surprised the partnership failed. Her promise to assist the authors in bringing out an anthology of literature (as part of the rebranding campaign) did not materialize just as all attempt to get her assist us with reading venues failed to yield fruit. Our invitation to her to attend the launching of the poetry collection by our then Chairman, Dr. Seyi Adigun was ignored even though the event took place right at the Press Centre of Radio House which housed the Ministry of Information.
When eventually the biography she talked about was published we were not officially invited for the launching which turned out to be a gathering of who-is-who in the political scene at that time. I had my regret about the failed partnership. I wished it had worked with all its benefits. But it was rather sad that we were unable to forge a partnership due to our differences. May be we were a bit too critical and had no restraint. But writers are notoriously independent minded. But somehow she found a worthy partner in the Nollywood industry during her days at NAFDAC. They shot films exposing the dangers of fake and adulterated drugs while at the same time projecting her as a woman of rare courage, incorruptible and an amazon.
My next encounter with the late Mrs Dora Akunyili was at ‘the great’ contest between her and former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, fondly called Onwa. I happen to come from the same senatorial district with both contestants and I had the opportunity of being at home during the electioneering campaigns and the final elections itself. Although I never met Dora in person again, I witnessed her ‘force’ in action. Dora was indeed a powerful woman, politically. Her achievements at NAFDAC not only endeared her to the common masses it also turned her into a household-name. But former governor Chris Ngige was a no push over. He too was well loved. His developmental strides in Anambra state within the three years or so he was in the saddle set him apart as one man who gave the people the benefit of good governance. Our people were indeed very lucky. The two contestants were well-focussed, parotic persons who were clearly out to make a difference to the lives of the people. At least their precedents left no one in doubts about this fact. For me, whichever side the dice turns it was going to be a win-win situation. That is, no winner, no vanquished. Our people were very lucky. The election was keenly contested. It was a battle of elephants and in the end, Ngige won the coveted seat.
Notwithstanding the failed partnership with the literati community, Dora was very passionate about making Nigeria a decent place to live and a country to be proud of by its citizens. I am very proud she is an Igbo. She is ready to die for the cause of Nigeria. She used every opportunity to say this even at the risk of being judged overzealous or guilty of self-praise. Looking at Dora, it is hard to miss that burning passion to save Nigeria. Her labour must therefore not be in vain. We must rise in honour of this great human being who played her role well before exiting. No doubt, Dora has her flaws. Only God is perfect. Yet she was truly dynamic, patriotic and a courageous person. May her indefatigable soul rest in peace.
Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor is the Coordinator of the Christopher Literary Society.
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