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Nigeria Must Study Awolowo, Azikwe, Bello’s Autobiographies To Get Out Of The Woods – Varsity Don

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A University of Benin, UNIBEN, don, Professor Anthony Esijolomi Afejuku, has said that for Nigeria to know where it got it wrong as a nation, there is the urgent need to study the autobiographies of the founding fathers of the nation diligently.

Afejuku, of the Department of English Language and Literature of the university, asserted that the reason why the post-colonial Nigeria was not out of the woods yet was the failure to pay attention to the autobiographies of the trio of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, which he described as the “official records of Nigeria”.

Delivering the UNIBEN 245th Inaugural Lecturer titled :”The Autobiography of Nigeria”, last Thursday, the professor of Literary Criticism, stated that the autobiographies: ‘The Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’, Azikwe’s ‘My Odeyssey’ and Bello’s ‘My Life’, “in different degrees, dwell on the need for Nigerians of all religions and political groups to discern and articulate interconnections between ethnic, religious and linguistic diversions to construct (and reconstruct) a sense of sharer country-hood or nation-hood”.

READ ALSO: Afejuku Delivers UNIBEN 245th Inaugural Lecture, Speaks On ‘Autobiography Of Nigeria’

Supporting Professor Adebayo Williams’ position that “Awolowo was a social reformer and crusader for the inalienable right of every citizen to access life more abundant”, Afejuku affirmed that the late Avatar was a key proponent of healthy attitude.

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“Chief Awolowo, regardless of any failings of human nature he possessed, was a key proponent of healthy attitude and virtuous conduct of political government: and was the nearest instance of the ideal elder and leader of administration and governance conceived of, especially as a future possibility for Nigeria – going by what he did in the Western Region, where he was Premier and was not allowed to do by the terminators of the First Republic“, he submitted.

The poet therefore canvassed that “to know where we got it wrong as a nation or as a people, there is the fundamental need to study the autobiographies diligently. Our failure so far to do so must be a basic reason why post-colonial Nigeria is not out of the woods yet in every respect”.

READ ALSO: UNIBEN Announces Resumption Date

“I am also suggesting that our steadily unprogressive omission to define the true motivations of the autobiographers and their political signs account for an important reason why up to now we have not had a standardized body of individuals or people who genuinely see themselves as autogenous and impermeable Nigerians”, Afejuku posited.

He therefore proceeded to recommend to the university to establish an independent ‘Centre for Autobiographical Studies’ which shall be a novel one in the country “in order for autobiography to be freed of its status as ‘a kind of auxiliary literature’ that is no longer legitimized or ‘legitimated by its partner the novel or to conflate it and the novel”.

Highlight of the lecture was the departure from the norm by Afejuku, who, breaking the norm of official dressing for Inaugural Lectures in suit, donned his native Itsekiri attire, complemented with a long coral bead and the academic gown.

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READ ALSO: UNIBEN Refutes Media Reports, Says Former Emir of Kano Remains Chancellor

Professor Afejuku holds a 1987 UNIBEN doctorate in English and Literature. His primary research interests are Prose Studies with emphasis on Autobiography, Creative Writing, Poetry, Literary Theory and Criticism.

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

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Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

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However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

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Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

READ ALSO: ATMs To Be Upgraded For Loans Services As CBN Gives Banks Ultimatum…

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

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He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi, LP Must Pay N1.5million To Access Documents – INEC

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

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The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

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Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Ukraine: Horror As Russian Forces Shoot People Queuing For Bread

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

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The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.

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