Literary feather for the soldier poet (interview)

NNW: How do you feel about the Maiden Meritorious Award conferred on you recently by the Niger State chapter of Women Writers Association of Nigeria, WRITA, in Minna?
Col. John I. Ubah: I?m really overwhelmed because with only four poetry books and a few contributions to anthologies I don?t think I?ve reached that stage to be considered for such an award. So I really appreciate it so much.
Those selected for the award included personalities like the Senate President, Sen. David Mark and the awardees are few. That means whoever is among the august list must have merited it. Could you tell us a bit about your literary history which culminated into this prestigious award?
In the literary sphere, I think all that has carried me along is sheer enthusiasm, not achievements. I was introduced to literature at Teachers? Training College and did very well in the subject in my Grade II, way back in 1967. And having left teaching suddenly to join the army, I didn?t pursue literary production vigorously. But I carried the interest on and I was able to produce four poetry books of which Songs of Lokoja is the most popular. It was publicly presented in Hassan Usman Katsina House in Kaduna in March 1997. And the others followed. I?ve always made literary contributions while I was in the Staff College Course 8 from which I graduated on 4th July 1986. I was declared the Best Author in Army Faculty. Thereafter, while training with the United States Marines my colleagues were very fascinated by the poems I produced every Friday for the school notice board. I still have the interest and hope that as time goes on I will be able to produce more works.
The Kaduna State chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, of which you are a patron, also honoured you recently with an award, Roll of Merit.
Yes. I?m always very happy to be associated with ANA and the Kaduna Writers? League. The two hold weekly reading sessions at Arewa House. Their effort is commendable and they need to be encouraged.
At what point in your life would you say you were more literary productive?
I tend to be more incisive and more creative when I?m in a classroom situation. And throughout my military career, each time I went on course, I was always writing and filing poems. That is why when I was appointed Military Administrator of Kebbi State, I gathered my files and from 1996 to 1998, I was able to produce the four poetry works. And I?m still building up myself. I don?t think I?ve reached the peak yet.
In retirement, some people find more time for literary creativity. In your own case has life in retirement afforded you the opportunity to be more prolific?
I don?t think it has. Because of my position as former Military Administrator, some people still see me as a governor. So they tend to put so much pressure on me that I hardly find time to sit down and think of what to write. For instance, the Kaduna Catholic Archbishop has included me in the Project Committee for building the jubilee secretariat. In the Arewa Consultative Forum, there is hardly any meeting they hold without inviting me. And we keep going about talking to the governors and others that matter in the North. For instance, we are likely to visit the FCT Minister soon. Another area that keeps me so busy is my membership of the Retired Army, Navy and Air force Officers? Club of Nigeria. For four years after my retirement I was Zonal Coordinator for National Vice President, covering seven states. And that takes a lot of my time. In fact, we?ve just come back from this year?s Annual General Meeting of the club in Lagos. So I?m always very busy that I don?t pay much attention to creativity.
How would you describe the Nigerian literary scene?
It is very interesting. Literary spirit is very dynamic and it refuses to be pushed aside. Reading culture is at a very low ebb; Nigerians are not interested in literary works. Even students only read works that are related to their curriculum. Yet, we have writers coming up more and more. Young writers like Chimamanda Adichie are writing and winning international prizes. I?m very much impressed. Literature is important because it is the one that makes us remember people like Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw and so on. I remember, while watching ?Who wants to be a millionaire? on TV recently, the inability of one of the contestants to say the first name of Chaucer prevented him from winning two million naira. I was laughing because I found it funny that he didn?t know or could not remember that his first name is Geoffrey. To have literary questions on such a popular programme is an indication that the literary spirit is very much alive in Nigeria. And I?m happy about it.
Finally, what?s your advice to young writers?
They should not be discouraged whether people are interested in their works or not. If they are not interested, time will come when they will be interested. The world goes in such a way that at a stage it will push itself into a situation where it has to start from where we started. It is always rotating and revolving. Literature and literary artists are the makers and builders of the society. They are the conscience of the society and storehouse of societal memory. So, young writers should not be discouraged. They should exercise their talents to the fullest.

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