BOOK REVIEW: THE ENDEMIC ‘OGA AT THE TOP’ SYNDROME

Book: A month and a Day: A Detention Diary

Author: Ken Saro-Wiwa

Year of Publication: 1995

Publisher: Spectrum Books Limited

Reviewer: Olutayo Irantiola

The ‘Oga at the Top’ phrase largely attributed to the former Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant in Lagos State, Shem Obafaiye had been silently in existence for ages before it went viral in March 2013. The detention diary of Ken Saro-Wiwa typified the experience of eloquent activists during the deadly military junta prevalent in Africa. The endless struggle for power abounds despite the return to ‘pseudo-democracy’ and it can all be summed up as the greatest inhumanity of the Black man to his kind.

Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa is and was the foremost environmental activist from Ogoni, Rivers State. He fought the war against the environmental degradation of his fatherland wholeheartedly till he became the target of both the government and the oil companies that did not give a damn even at the behest of the international community. This book is an account of his experience between the 21^st of June 1993 and the 22^nd of July 1993 while he was held captive for the boycott of Ogoni indigenes in 12^th of June 1993 Presidential elections. This was his fourth arrest in three months. However, he remained undeterred, he stood for this cause till he was accused of murder and executed in 1995.

This review will expose on the known colloquial phrases that pervade the civil service; the impediment of the efficiency of the civil service and the results of military force on civilians.

The book opened with the description of how Ken was accosted within the Port Harcourt metropolis, he had become ‘a well-known customer’ to the State Security Service. This depicted the extent to which he had become familiar with different law enforcement agents. He frolicked with them whenever they came for him.

Another statement that is commonly associated with the civil service is ‘we know our job’. According to the author, ‘the implication was that I was trying to teach him his job: a sin in Nigerian official circles punishable by great wickedness’. This showed the level at which civil servants abhor confrontational and assertive people.

The perennial contention between the lawyers and the Nigerian Police was also pinpointed in the book. According to Ken Saro-Wiwa, ‘The lawyer came and he was ordered to leave…. The Nigerian police hate lawyers. They do not mind doctors.’ Both organizations have the same denomination, law, but unfortunately, they are constantly at loggerhead.

Saro-Wiwa in the fourth chapter of the book, the longest chapter, described his modus operandi in equipping himself against the enriching ‘deals’ that pervaded the country-within the civil service; between the civil service and her contractors etc. He went into trading, invested in properties thereafter he divested into writing and publishing.

                ‘It was also important that in seeking limited financial security. I should maintain

                My integrity and not go into deals Nigerian-style such as would make it impossible

                For me to look anyone in the eyes.’

A hypothetical deal was described around the medical care of inmates when he was sick while in custody. The clinic where he was taken was a newly constructed one. He said the building had been constructed in the usual splash and dash manner of Nigerian official contract jobs, no doubt at ten times the normal cost.’

The sordid description of the premises of the Nigerian police and the inhuman treatment meted out on detainees. Some of the notable places mentioned included-

Central Police Station described it thus, ‘It was in disrepair. The lawn was littered with cars, in different colours and states. Some appeared to have been there for ages, waiting to be used for exhibits for cases that would never be tried.’ The full treatment of someone in police custody had been given to Dube and Nwiee …they had been thrown into the guardroom… they met with hardened criminals and petty thieves who held court and charged newcomers specific fees.’

The notorious Alagbon Close was said to be ‘extremely dirty. The wall were grimy with the marks of the years. The place had not been painted for ages. Ken Saro-Wiwa passed the night in the reception and the sergeant on duty was informed that he was not to go into the guardroom for the night. He was offered a room where he had his meal, ‘cobwebby, dusty, unswept with broken cupboards and grimy desks lying in thorough disorder.

His experience at the Imo State Police Command was narrated thus ‘we were led into a room… there was no light in it, the only available light coming from a beam which fell from the fluorescent tube in the corridor. There was no door, the only door having fallen off its hinges… Opposite the room was a bathroom from which came the stinking odour of human waste.

The Police Station at Awka with ‘the inside totally intolerably. It was all cobwebby and the walls were smudged. Truly, no one could ever do meaningful work in such a messy, grimy surrounding.’

The Port Harcourt prison said as having ‘the exterior is solid, grey and forbidden… its interior is grimy, squalid and dilapidated.’ The state of a nation can be told by the way it keep its prisons, prisoners being mostly out of sight. The negligence, callousness and incompetence of some thieving officials who had run the place over the years had a lot to do with it.

While he was conveyed in a Peugeot J5 during the ordeal, ‘the bus itself reeked of the smell of petrol.

Part of the painful happenings within the civil service include the downward trend of happenings in our country. As of 1993 when the writer was postulating, it was not as bad as what is obtainable now. According to him, ‘Our ship of state is today sinking! A few are manipulating the system to their advantage, but our intellectuals, our women, our youths, the masses are being flushed down the drain. All our systems, educational, economic, health, are in shambles.’

The biased reportage of State-owned media was used by the Rivers State Government against Ken Saro-Wiwa. The copious example is that of Nigerian Tide, the newspaper that he set up in 1971 when he was the Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, ‘… the newspaper had since been misused by successive administrations and was now more and less useless.’

The archetypal bureaucracy of the civil service was seen in two different ways; among the law enforcement agents, the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Prison Service on how a detainee can access medical aids and the judiciary. All judges were not willing to sign the writs while Lagos lawyers were boycotting the court for one week; it took a brave judge in Owerri to sign it. All of these slowed down judicial verdicts.

Another disaster that has befallen the civil service is the inability of her officers to be vocal about the challenges that have befallen the society in general. ‘I felt sorry for… all those men and women who were being forced by the system to subvert the law, tell lies, play dirty tricks, in order to earn their monthly pay.’

Also, the poor remuneration of civil servants as exemplified by the dismal condition of service of the officers of the Nigerian Prison Service, was a part of the discourse, and the salary a mere pittance.

Other renowned things that happen in Nigeria mentioned in the book include the firing of tear gas canisters at protesters; the killing of women; the detention of the journalist of The News magazine; the betrayal of those that should support the same cause; the state of Nigerian roads; trigger happy uniform officers; the care of detainees left to their families and friends while in incarceration; the ransack of people’s private homes;  the way in which international organizations get away with environment degradation in Nigeria and not in other countries.

As a cerebral person, Ken Saro-Wiwa mentioned the names of other prominent people across academics and corporate Nigeria that he encountered at different point in time. Such names include- Professors Claude Ake; Chike Obi; Femi Osofisan; Kole Omotoso; Theo Vincent; Drs.  Olu Onagoruwa; Dr. Odili; Yemi Ogunbiyi; Obi Wali.  Others are Uche Chukwumerije; Bayo Balogun; Nnaemeka Achebe and Rufus Ada George.

All the officers in this book were acting on the next order from their superiors aka ‘Oga at the Top’. The use of initiative is rather unpopular among the civil servants. The officer assigned to manage him, Mr Ogbeifun, had to wait on the orders of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of FIIB. Subsequently, the invites by the Inspector General of Police; the meeting with the Head of National Intelligence Agency, Brigadier-General Halilu Akilu; National Security Adviser, Major-General Aliyu Mohammed and the final instruction of Augustus Aikhomu to release him.

Worthy of note is that the family man in Ken Saro-Wiwa never died in all these struggles. He ‘thought of his family; father, mother, brothers and sisters… his children who just buried earlier in the year.’  He still found time to take his children on holiday and visited them regularly in the United Kingdom. Equally, he enjoyed the support of his parents and siblings who visited him in detention and his Mum gave him a delicacy he had not taken in 40 years.

A Month and a Day is a poignant account of the political war of tyranny, oppression and greed designed to dispossess the Ogoni people of their rights; their wealth. The struggle for restoration; a struggle for equity; a challenge of the status quo resonated throughout the text. He witnessed the efficiency of evil in a country where virtually nothing worked and all orders were carried out with military precision. The voice of Ken Saro-Wiwa had never drowned and all efforts are ongoing to ensure that what he stood for will result into the eventual clean-up of Ogoni and her environs. The text is a great addition to Prison and Environmental literature. 

DEMYSTIFYING MASCULINE GIMMICKS IN ASABI ALAKARA BY AKEEM LASISI

Title: Asabi Alakara

Poet: Akeem Lasisi

Timing: 7:42 minutes

Directed by: Sanjo Adegoke

Reviewer: Olutayo Irantiola

Campaigns against sexual harassment, rape and other feminine associated vices are raving issues of the moment .In order to add a creative twist to the campaign, Akeem Lasisi, the award winning poet who fuses both Yoruba and English languages into all his performances, has come up with an ethno-poetic-musicology tagged “Asabi Alakara”.  

Masculine gimmicks were demystified in this new piece. As characteristics of Lasisi, the poem is a fusion of dance, music and verses that has made him evolve another mode of poetry that is distinct from those of Lanrewaju Adepoju, Olatunbosun Oladapo and Ogundare Foyanmu genre as he instructs in danceable tunes.

Some of the cultural elements in the video include the playing of ayo olopon, the game typically played by men to relax; bata drums; the traditional kitchen which symbolises where the good delicacies are prepared and also pretty ladies plaiting their hair to bring out their beauty.

The various ladies depicted to be at risk of sexual harassment in a very subtle manner are hawkers, students, female members of a religious congregation while the baits include money; examination grades cum extra tutorial classes and special anointing. These objects have driven many people in perdition. However, the list is not exhaustive but it instructs everyone adequately.

The Yorubas are known for speaking in parables because it is unfolded by the wise and this was evident in the video. Animals used to carry the import of the narration are the Tortoise which is always associated with corny spells; the hawk which preys on the chicken; the squirrel that escapes from the pellets of the hunter. The poetry is full of post-proverbial sayings making it the poems full of contemporary vibes.

Kudos to team that made it happen, the Director, Sanjo Adegoke; the folklorist, Edaoto Agbeniyi, Ropo Ewenla and others for putting together a nice performance that the Yorubas can gladly call theirs and to the songbird, Akeem Lasisi, may your wisdom not wane.

Commonwealth Writers Call for Writers

adda is Commonwealth Writers’ online gathering of stories, a place where writers and readers can talk to each other across global and geopolitical divides.

We are looking to commission a number of stories for adda in the coming months. Each commission will be given detailed editorial attention to ensure a level of quality in the stories published and also to offer the writers – especially those less experienced – a process to develop their writing.

We are looking to select a broad range of stories, particularly those which haven’t been heard before.

 We are offering one-off commissions:  

Fiction – short stories

Nonfiction – which can include creative nonfiction, memoir, photo or narrative essay

 There are no subject restrictions.

No previously published work will be considered, including work published in anthologies, chapbooks or online.

For fiction submissions please send:

Your short story (1500 – 5000 words), or a completed first draft

A description of your writing history (300 words max)

Your contact details (including postal address, email and telephone number) and nationality. Please note, we can only accept submissions from citizens of Commonwealth countries

 For nonfiction submissions please send:

Your nonfiction piece (1500 – 5000 words), or an outline of what you want to write and why (750 words max), plus a sample of your nonfiction writing (2000 words max)

A description of your writing history (300 words)

Your contact details (including postal address, email and telephone number) and nationality. Please note, we can only accept submissions from citizens of Commonwealth countries

If we offer you a nonfiction commission, there may also be a small expenses fund available to help you to research your piece e.g. local travel. Please state in your submission if you would need us to help with research expenses and what these would be.

You are welcome to submit the same piece of fiction to adda and the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (which opens for entries on September 1st). If we decide to commission your story for adda you will have the choice to accept and withdraw your entry or reject the commission and keep your story in the prize process.

At the moment, we can only accept work/proposals written in English.

Please send your submissions to commonwealthwriters@gmail.com by 11:59pm (any time zone) on 29 August with the subject heading ‘adda submission’.

You’ll hear back from us by 7th October 2016.

The Theatre Republic to host the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka

The Theatre Republic hosts the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, next month as he opens, formally, the performing arts venue and discusses his artistic journey of six decades with presenters, performers and supporters of the arts at the Republic's Ideas Café.

(5 invitations will be made available to selected students of any discipline who write to info@renegadetheatreng.com and state in 200 words why this event would be of benefit to them)

Artistic Director - Wole Oguntokun

POETRY SUBMISSION TO CELEBRATE THE NIYI OSUNDARE @ 70

Gardener of Words, Warrior of Lights: A Special Publication in Honour of Niyi Osundare

Niyi Osundare, internationally acclaimed and multiple award-winning Nigerian poet and essayist, was born on March 12, 1947. He was educated at the Universities of Ibadan, Leeds and York. His importance for African poetry, earlier noted in his Songs of the Marketplace and Village Voices, became more established with the publication of The Eye of the Earth, winner of the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1986, the same year that Wole Soyinka became the first African winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

Osundare is one of the most celebrated living Nigerian poets today, serving as poetry mentor, judge and motivator to individuals, institutions, literary groups and organisations all over the world. He taught for many years in Nigeria’s premier varsity, the University of Ibadan, where he served as Chair of the Department of English from 1993 to 1997. Osundare is currently Distinguished Professor of English, at the University of New Orleans, USA, and Honorary Professor-at-Large, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

IBPF, in collaboration with the University of Ibadan, is putting together a collection of poems to celebrate Niyi Osundare, unique gardener of words, man of letters, on his seventieth birthday.

This is an open call to all, to submit original poems which celebrate and reflect the vision and values of Niyi Osundare. Interested contributors are invited to send in a maximum number of three poems, including a brief biodata of not more than 150 words.

Please send submissions to ibadanpoetryfoundation@gmail.com, copy a.rajioyelade@ui.edu.ng

Deadline of submission: October 10, 2016

Remi Raji
Jumoke Verissimo
Emman Egya Sule

CALL FOR ENTRIES: ANTHOLOGY OF NIGERIAN WOMEN POETS

Picture from- The Guardian newspaper, Sunday 26th June 2016.

LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD & MAN: REVIEW OF ‘THE VOW’ BY IBUKUNOLUWA IDOWU

Album: The Vow

Number of tracks: 6

Year of album: 2016

Produced by: Abiodun Oni

Name of Reviewer: Olutayo Irantiola

The Yoruba genre of gospel music had been in dearth of originality in the recent past, however, Ibukun Idowu in the album titled ‘The Vow’ demonstrated her understanding of the gospel using Yoruba culture and language.

The first track opens with a short praise chant which was led by bata drums. Then, the track opened properly in a well orchestrated rhythm. The track is a description of the need to rejoice in the Lord at all times. The dexterity of the singer was shown in her ability to add some English twist to the track and it flowed with ease with the support of the talking drum. The 14 minutes long track is a transition from why God should be praised; to the staunch believe in God and the pleasure derived from consistently worshiping God.

The second track titled ‘Omo Oba’ is of the highlife family that is garnished by the horns as required. The track is an encouragement despite the challenges experienced in the world. The artiste motivated her listeners to rejoice which is a sign of hope by praying to be victorious and successful regardless of the storms. As evident in reality, it is only a motivated person that can stand up to confront the enormous challenges of life.

What is the gospel if there is no call to salvation, Idowu in the third track titled ‘Ireti Ogo’ appealed to people to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because the Lord’s appearance is fast approaching. With faith and assurance, she affirmed her goal of being with the Lord at his coming. Some of the good things that are experienced in Jesus include heavenly hope, eternal life, eternal joy and eternal rest.

The fourth track titled ‘Ibukunoluwa’ can be called a realisation of her name which means God’s blessing. According to the track, after much toil, God has granted her abundant blessing and victory. People can stare at her because of the blessings that have come her way. There was rap in Yoruba that further reinforces the blessings of God all-around the artiste which was only done by God.

The fifth track titled ‘E darasimi’ can be considered as the aftermath of experiencing the blessing of the Lord which is the resolution of the artiste to tell the world of how good the Lord has been to her. Just like Joshua, she made her vow that, ‘as for Idowu and her household, they would worship the Lord’. She concluded the track by imploring people to rise and join her in praises to God.

After experiencing her love and commitment to God, Seun and Ibukunoluwa Idowu came together to discuss their ‘Vow’ to one another in a duet; the last track is short but insightful. The track is like a conversation between them, the song states the duty of both parties. They reminded themselves of the love, commitment, promise and vow that they have started.  They ended by encouraging one another not to allow a third-party into their relationship.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. You can enjoy the lyrics, the rhythm, the encouragement, the love and the firm belief in God, if you get a copy of the album. I recommend it to those interested in pure and original gospel songs that uplift the soul.

Download track here