Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian novelist and staunch supporter of Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has been invited as a speaker at the launch of a book on Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo where President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect, are among the expected dignitaries.
The book, titled ‘Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of An Innovative Leader’, was authored by 25 journalists and writers.
It chronicles various aspects of Osinbajo’s life ranging from childhood, career, politics, family life, and impact as the vice-president.
In a statement on Monday, the organisers said Chimamanda Adichie, the renowned author, will speak on the theme ‘Inspiring a New Nigeria’ at the event.
The statement added that proceeds from the sales of the book will go to charity organisations.
The organisers also said a blurb will be made available ahead of the public presentation of the book.
Buhari is enlisted as the father of the day at the event while Yakubu Gowon, former head of state, will chair the book launch.
Other prominent figures expected at the event include former president Olusegun Obasanjo; Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president; Ahmad Lawan, senate president; Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president elect.
Governors, senators and house of representatives members as well as captains of industry are also expected to grace the event.
Meanwhile, the invitation of Chimamanda as the speaker for the event has created a lot of controversies among Nigerians, especially those on social media. While many claimed her invitation is totally ridiculous to the president’s seat and the nation at large, some said there is nothing bad to invite such an icon of the literary industry, others said it is Osibanjo’s last chance in power to show his grievances against Tinubu
Chimamanda, recently lambasted President Joe Biden of the United States of America, over the US State Department’s congratulatory message to Nigeria’s ‘president-elect’, Bola Tinubu.
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The writer in an open letter to President Biden on Thursday, April 6, 2023, said for the US to congratulate Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declared winner of the 2023 presidential election “deliberately manipulated”, is a clear indication that Biden is tarnishing America’s self-proclaimed commitment to democracy.
In the open letter, she said Tinubu’s announced victory by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was illegitimate as the process of the February 25 presidential election was not marred by technical faults as claimed by the INEC but a deliberate manipulation by the electoral umpire, saying that the election was full of discrepancies and irregularities which were all shunned by the INEC.
She had earlier refused to receive the order of federal republic (OFR) award conferred on her by the Buhari’s government during the celebration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence. But stormed Anambra when she was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Odeluwa ( Writer for the world) by the traditional ruler of her community, Abba in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State, Igwe Leonard Nwankwo Eze on January 1, 2023.
She was in the news earlier this month, when she faulted Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka for describing Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed’s comment on the general elections as fascist.
She said; “I have a lot of respect for Prof. Soyinka, I admire him, I respect him as a thinker, as a writer, I think every one should read the The Man Died, Ake: The Memoir is beautiful, but at the same time, I disagree with him very strongly on this particular issue, and actually because I respect Prof. Soyinka so much, I went back and watch the interview, and I think fascist is a really strong word.
“We use it now to address this sort of authoritarianism that is often populist, and right-wing like Hungary, and even the former American president, and if you look at those situations, you can see why they have been termed fascist, and I didn’t see any reason Mr. Datti Baba-Ahmed’s interview would have been termed fascist.
“I think he was making a very strongly felt point about the election. I think a charitable way of reading Prof. Soyinka’s comments is that Professor Soyinka himself, I think it’s fair to say he is not given to restraint in language, in general, so maybe that’s where that word fascist came from.”
However, reacting to the development, Kingsley Naka Boy Iortim said; “Osinbajo is a bitter loser.”
Ola Lekan wrote; “Tinubu must not go because this is a community of enemies. We know that Osibajo is still nursing his failures in primary election and that’s why he’s bringing tribalised speaker to speak. Osibajo is only digging his political grave deeper. Tinubu shouldn’t go. Let Osibajo and his co enemies do their thing. Alake or Keyamo should represent him.”
Oliver Chigbo Fidelis wrote; “That day, na for window I go peep from. I don’t like Vawlence.”
Chisom Nnadimma said; “Osibanjo knows that Chimanda is courageous and will speak his mind. Smart one Prof.’
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