Literature
Malam BM Dzukogi, a poet, short story writer, essayist and former Financial Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is contesting for the post of National Secretary of the association in the next convention. In this interview with Sumaila Umaisha, he says he is sure of victory because he has all it takes to change ANA for the better.
For some time now there have been talks about you trying to contest for the position of National Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA. What is the motivating factor?
B.M. Dzukogi: Let me start by saying it is not just talks about it, it is real and we have announced our intention. The motivating factor is simple. I have reached a stage where I have to take my service forward. So the motivation, largely, is to establish at the national level things we have done here in Niger State. It is a service, burdensome, but it is beautiful.
What are the things you have done in Niger State that you want to replicate at the national level?
It depends at what point one was. Hilltop Model School, you are aware of the little we have contributed to that environment, establishing teen authorship, establishing arts centre there and many other things. In Niger State, of course, apart from the fact that my presence is a motivating factor for the younger ones, which is also a contribution to service, because it is like bringing them forward. There are some other things we introduced during my time as the secretary of the state chapter of ANA from 1994 to 2000. And the one that will readily come to mind is the issue of Annual Schools Carnival of Arts and Festival of Songs (ASCAFS). Apart from the anthologies we pioneered, there are other programmes like visitation to schools, trying to found literature library.
There is still an EXCO in place, only winding up their first term. Given the tradition of ANA where EXCO members are often given automatic second term, how are you going to dislodge the EXCO?
Giving automatic ticket to people should be discouraged because this EXCO has totally remained redundant. And that?s where the trouble is. When we encourage automatic second term we are indirectly encouraging third term. Second term should be left in the hands of the people, the electorate. If they want you based on what you have done, they will vote you in again for the second time. For instance, if we are able to secure our first term and we fail to perform, the people should throw us out. That is the beauty of democracy. In any case, once the first term elapses, then a fresh environment has been created for any other person to aspire for any position.
When you said the present EXCO is redundant what do you mean?
What have they done? They have not done anything. Truly, there is nothing I can hold on to now as something they have achieved. During Okediran?s era everywhere was active, we were part of that EXCO and we know how much activism he brought into the leadership and everybody had no choice than to follow ? many things; colloquiums, inauguration of branches, workshops here and there. Okediran was doing all of those things, he was seen; we were everywhere. In the present regime, no activities; the only thing they have organized so far is the colloquium for JP Clark. And if I?m to narrate what happened there it will be too bad. They have actually not measured up to half of what Okediran did. This is redundancy. What they should have aspired to do is to do as much as he has done or do more. If you can?t do more than that then you must retain the frequency of what he did. But nothing ? some much quiet.
And you think if you come there you will change the situation?
With all sense of modesty, I think I have the ability to change the situation. I have the ability to change ANA. The office is not the thing, but the occupier of that office; it is the leader who makes the office. You will see an office that is seemingly insignificant, but if you have a creative person there he brings his creativity to bear on the office.
So how is ANA going to look like under you?
It will be largely based on our antecedent. For example, if we were able to successfully do series of anthologies in ANA Niger, which we did not have to wait for conventions before we release them, I should be able to do that at the national level. If we could introduce ASCAFS in Niger State, we should be able to do that nationally. In doing these things, you need to connect with organizations and individuals of influence for them to give you the necessary support. They don?t need to give us the funds; they only need to give us the administrative funds ? funds for organizing the events. Securing a secretariat in Abuja, even if it is temporary, shouldn?t be a problem for us, because we have people there that we will talk to, to be able to release offices for us to use. Even the Niger State governor will be too willing to do that for us there at the liaison office. I should also be able to carry the teen authorship further, going into universities now, which is a little step above what we do in secondary schools here. For example, you bring in the Nigerian universities? literary clubs into the fold of ANA. Now, you are not just engaging them, you are establishing a structure for an aspiring author. For example, a child from secondary school who had experienced teen authorship gets to the university and after university he moves straight to the association. So that building of structure is something we should be able to do. Then the colloquium thing; we should be able to celebrate on a larger scale icons of Nigerian literature. We will bring them together to announce to the society their works and worth. And once the younger ones watch this thing unfolding at the national scene, they will naturally aspire to be them. In that way, you are re-organising their thought. There are many things we want to do, which I will publish in my manifesto. What made Okediran succeed was that though he was higher than us he brought down himself to our level, interacted very well and carried everyone along. He goes to the naming and marriage ceremonies of members. Okediran will fly from Abuja to Maiduguri just to attend those things. If the leader is performing, nothing will prevent those under him from performing.
In your statement you?ve been saying ?our??
You know, I?m working in concert with Remi Raji. And it is a long time of muting of this quest. Truly, my concept of leadership is the one that is driving me forward. Although today leadership in our society translates to wealth, such that if you are vying for a position people will think you are not serious, you are just pretending, when you get there you will do a different thing. But such thing happens when you have not developed a strong philosophy in life. I know very well that the name I have secured is greater than the instant wealth one would get. In any case, if you do something very well, you will also get people?s goodwill, and that is better than wealth. Life should be about being contented with what you have and the influence you exert on people positively.
On a final note, what is your level of preparation, and from the reactions you are getting so far, what do you think are your chances?
Truly, the Nigerian literary environment knows Dzukogi, and if I say I have no confidence in them to accept my aspiration, I must be lying. I?m just too convinced that they know what I?m capable of, know the kind of person I am and are willing to accept me. In any case, I?ve spoken to a lot. I started speaking to people from December, 2010. I text Prof. Olu Obafemi, I text Zaynab Alkali, Odia and many others. And their responses were all positive. Someone even said ?you have my one hundred and one per cent support?.
Interviewed by Sumaila Umaisha and published in the New Nigerian.
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Literature
I have the ability to change ANA - Dzukogi
Malam BM Dzukogi, a poet, short story writer, essayist and former Financial Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is contesting for the post of National Secretary of the association in the next convention. In this interview with Sumaila Umaisha, he says he is sure of victory because he has all it takes to change ANA for the better.
For some time now there have been talks about you trying to contest for the position of National Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA. What is the motivating factor?
B.M. Dzukogi: Let me start by saying it is not just talks about it, it is real and we have announced our intention. The motivating factor is simple. I have reached a stage where I have to take my service forward. So the motivation, largely, is to establish at the national level things we have done here in Niger State. It is a service, burdensome, but it is beautiful.
What are the things you have done in Niger State that you want to replicate at the national level?
It depends at what point one was. Hilltop Model School, you are aware of the little we have contributed to that environment, establishing teen authorship, establishing arts centre there and many other things. In Niger State, of course, apart from the fact that my presence is a motivating factor for the younger ones, which is also a contribution to service, because it is like bringing them forward. There are some other things we introduced during my time as the secretary of the state chapter of ANA from 1994 to 2000. And the one that will readily come to mind is the issue of Annual Schools Carnival of Arts and Festival of Songs (ASCAFS). Apart from the anthologies we pioneered, there are other programmes like visitation to schools, trying to found literature library.
There is still an EXCO in place, only winding up their first term. Given the tradition of ANA where EXCO members are often given automatic second term, how are you going to dislodge the EXCO?
Giving automatic ticket to people should be discouraged because this EXCO has totally remained redundant. And that?s where the trouble is. When we encourage automatic second term we are indirectly encouraging third term. Second term should be left in the hands of the people, the electorate. If they want you based on what you have done, they will vote you in again for the second time. For instance, if we are able to secure our first term and we fail to perform, the people should throw us out. That is the beauty of democracy. In any case, once the first term elapses, then a fresh environment has been created for any other person to aspire for any position.
When you said the present EXCO is redundant what do you mean?
What have they done? They have not done anything. Truly, there is nothing I can hold on to now as something they have achieved. During Okediran?s era everywhere was active, we were part of that EXCO and we know how much activism he brought into the leadership and everybody had no choice than to follow ? many things; colloquiums, inauguration of branches, workshops here and there. Okediran was doing all of those things, he was seen; we were everywhere. In the present regime, no activities; the only thing they have organized so far is the colloquium for JP Clark. And if I?m to narrate what happened there it will be too bad. They have actually not measured up to half of what Okediran did. This is redundancy. What they should have aspired to do is to do as much as he has done or do more. If you can?t do more than that then you must retain the frequency of what he did. But nothing ? some much quiet.
And you think if you come there you will change the situation?
With all sense of modesty, I think I have the ability to change the situation. I have the ability to change ANA. The office is not the thing, but the occupier of that office; it is the leader who makes the office. You will see an office that is seemingly insignificant, but if you have a creative person there he brings his creativity to bear on the office.
So how is ANA going to look like under you?
It will be largely based on our antecedent. For example, if we were able to successfully do series of anthologies in ANA Niger, which we did not have to wait for conventions before we release them, I should be able to do that at the national level. If we could introduce ASCAFS in Niger State, we should be able to do that nationally. In doing these things, you need to connect with organizations and individuals of influence for them to give you the necessary support. They don?t need to give us the funds; they only need to give us the administrative funds ? funds for organizing the events. Securing a secretariat in Abuja, even if it is temporary, shouldn?t be a problem for us, because we have people there that we will talk to, to be able to release offices for us to use. Even the Niger State governor will be too willing to do that for us there at the liaison office. I should also be able to carry the teen authorship further, going into universities now, which is a little step above what we do in secondary schools here. For example, you bring in the Nigerian universities? literary clubs into the fold of ANA. Now, you are not just engaging them, you are establishing a structure for an aspiring author. For example, a child from secondary school who had experienced teen authorship gets to the university and after university he moves straight to the association. So that building of structure is something we should be able to do. Then the colloquium thing; we should be able to celebrate on a larger scale icons of Nigerian literature. We will bring them together to announce to the society their works and worth. And once the younger ones watch this thing unfolding at the national scene, they will naturally aspire to be them. In that way, you are re-organising their thought. There are many things we want to do, which I will publish in my manifesto. What made Okediran succeed was that though he was higher than us he brought down himself to our level, interacted very well and carried everyone along. He goes to the naming and marriage ceremonies of members. Okediran will fly from Abuja to Maiduguri just to attend those things. If the leader is performing, nothing will prevent those under him from performing.
In your statement you?ve been saying ?our??
You know, I?m working in concert with Remi Raji. And it is a long time of muting of this quest. Truly, my concept of leadership is the one that is driving me forward. Although today leadership in our society translates to wealth, such that if you are vying for a position people will think you are not serious, you are just pretending, when you get there you will do a different thing. But such thing happens when you have not developed a strong philosophy in life. I know very well that the name I have secured is greater than the instant wealth one would get. In any case, if you do something very well, you will also get people?s goodwill, and that is better than wealth. Life should be about being contented with what you have and the influence you exert on people positively.
On a final note, what is your level of preparation, and from the reactions you are getting so far, what do you think are your chances?
Truly, the Nigerian literary environment knows Dzukogi, and if I say I have no confidence in them to accept my aspiration, I must be lying. I?m just too convinced that they know what I?m capable of, know the kind of person I am and are willing to accept me. In any case, I?ve spoken to a lot. I started speaking to people from December, 2010. I text Prof. Olu Obafemi, I text Zaynab Alkali, Odia and many others. And their responses were all positive. Someone even said ?you have my one hundred and one per cent support?.
Interviewed by Sumaila Umaisha and published in the New Nigerian.
- As Writers Converge On Uyo?
The Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is well known for its commitment to annual conference. For the past 30 years it has held an international convention annually. This year is not an exception. Members of the association from the state chapters...
- I Went Down Fighting - Agada
The Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, held its 30th Annual International Convention in Abuja from Wednesday 30th November to Sunday 4th December, 2011. And one of the main activities at the conference was the election of new executive council members...
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- Celebrating Jp Clark?s Glowing Achievements
Recently, the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, held a two-day colloquium on the 50 years of JP Clark?s writings in Lagos. In this interview at the event, the President of the association, Dr. Jerry Agada, spoke about the occasion, its shortcomings...
- Denja - 'achebe Colloquium Will Be Bigger Than Soyinka?s'
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