Literature
Public presentation of the book Praxis of Political Concepts and Clichés in Nigeria?s Fourth Republic (Essays in Honour of Dr Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu, last Thursday in Abuja turned out to be a unifying platform for three former heads of state hitherto thought to be at loggerheads ? General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Few minutes after the guests had settled down in Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, waiting for the commencement of the occasion, Buhari and Babangida walked in together. The surprised audience spontaneously rose in a loud ovation. Before the standing ovation subsided, Obasanjo walked in and in his characteristic manner turned the high table into a drama stage, as he squeezed himself between the two and posed for the press cameras. The cheering rose to a deafening crescendo!
It was indeed a gathering of who is who in Nigeria. Governors, Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives members, Royal Fathers and other important dignitaries from the public and private sectors, including the Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers, Malam Abdulrahman Tukur, were present.
The event, which was organised by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, in collaboration with the Niger State Government, was chaired by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Obasanjo was the book presenter while the book reviewer was Dr. Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion expressed gratitude to the guests, observing that the large turn-out testified to the importance of the book being presented and the vision and foresight of the Chief Servant of Niger State, who is behind the laudable project.
Speaking in the same vein, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, stressed that the Chief Servant?s ideals, which gave birth to the compilation of the critical essays on the Nigerian political situation, is in harmony with the ideals of Nigerian universities, particularly the University of Ibadan. The Vice Chancellor traced the problems bedevilling Nigerian universities to lack of adequate funding and advocated public-private partnership in the management of educational institutions. He disclosed that the Chief Servant had graciously decided that all donations realised at the public presentation would be given to the University of Ibadan as an endowment fund for Peace and Leadership Studies.
In his speech, the editor of the book, Professor Isaac Clawale Albert, introduced its contents, concept and aims to the guests. According to him, all the terms examined in the book emanated from the changing democratic and authoritarian political space in which both the Nigerian politician and people find themselves. ?What the authors of the chapters in this book have simply done is to file behind the Chief Servant to express themselves about the present democratic systems in Nigeria?, he said, adding that, ?it is a well-researched, largely political publication with contributions from acknowledged scholars, teachers and researchers, as well as practising lawyers?.
Dr. Reuben Abati, re-echoed these facts in his review of the book. He described the book as critical and analytical in its assessment of the Nigerian situation ? a practical guide to a wide range of issues arising from and affecting the polity. He said unlike other politicians who would have used the publication as an opportunity to massage their ego, the Chief Servant was rarely mentioned in the book, though it was written in his honour.
Highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of the book by Obasanjo. It attracted another round of applause as he called on the two former heads of state to join him in unveiling the book. In his presentation speech, Obasanjo described the Chief Servant as a man who always tries to find practical solutions to practical problems. He said unlike many other critics and intellectuals who embark on theoretical solutions that are hardly practicable, the Chief Servant has proved, especially by this project, that only practical approach to governance could achieve the desired result. He then congratulated the Chief Servant and all those who worked together to make the publication a reality.
In their goodwill messages, Buhari and Babangida also congratulated the Chief Servant.
Governor Mohammed Danjuma Goje of Gombe State was impressed by not only the effort of the organisers in embarking on such a worthy publication but their ability to bring together three former heads of state. He said it was a demonstration of the fact that the political ideals preached in the book has starting working. He called on other politicians, especially past heads of state to emulate the spirit of camaraderie exhibited by the trio.
The donation segment of the programme was opened with the contribution of a whopping sum of N72 million naira from the 36 states of the federation. Thereafter, donations in cash, cheques and pledges poured in. And at the end of the event millions of naira was realised.
(c) Reported by SUMAILA UMAISHA and published in the 7/7/10 edition of New nigerian newspaper.
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Literature
Praxis brings IBB, OBJ, Buhari together
Public presentation of the book Praxis of Political Concepts and Clichés in Nigeria?s Fourth Republic (Essays in Honour of Dr Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu, last Thursday in Abuja turned out to be a unifying platform for three former heads of state hitherto thought to be at loggerheads ? General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Few minutes after the guests had settled down in Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, waiting for the commencement of the occasion, Buhari and Babangida walked in together. The surprised audience spontaneously rose in a loud ovation. Before the standing ovation subsided, Obasanjo walked in and in his characteristic manner turned the high table into a drama stage, as he squeezed himself between the two and posed for the press cameras. The cheering rose to a deafening crescendo!
It was indeed a gathering of who is who in Nigeria. Governors, Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives members, Royal Fathers and other important dignitaries from the public and private sectors, including the Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers, Malam Abdulrahman Tukur, were present.
The event, which was organised by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, in collaboration with the Niger State Government, was chaired by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Obasanjo was the book presenter while the book reviewer was Dr. Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion expressed gratitude to the guests, observing that the large turn-out testified to the importance of the book being presented and the vision and foresight of the Chief Servant of Niger State, who is behind the laudable project.
Speaking in the same vein, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, stressed that the Chief Servant?s ideals, which gave birth to the compilation of the critical essays on the Nigerian political situation, is in harmony with the ideals of Nigerian universities, particularly the University of Ibadan. The Vice Chancellor traced the problems bedevilling Nigerian universities to lack of adequate funding and advocated public-private partnership in the management of educational institutions. He disclosed that the Chief Servant had graciously decided that all donations realised at the public presentation would be given to the University of Ibadan as an endowment fund for Peace and Leadership Studies.
In his speech, the editor of the book, Professor Isaac Clawale Albert, introduced its contents, concept and aims to the guests. According to him, all the terms examined in the book emanated from the changing democratic and authoritarian political space in which both the Nigerian politician and people find themselves. ?What the authors of the chapters in this book have simply done is to file behind the Chief Servant to express themselves about the present democratic systems in Nigeria?, he said, adding that, ?it is a well-researched, largely political publication with contributions from acknowledged scholars, teachers and researchers, as well as practising lawyers?.
Dr. Reuben Abati, re-echoed these facts in his review of the book. He described the book as critical and analytical in its assessment of the Nigerian situation ? a practical guide to a wide range of issues arising from and affecting the polity. He said unlike other politicians who would have used the publication as an opportunity to massage their ego, the Chief Servant was rarely mentioned in the book, though it was written in his honour.
Highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of the book by Obasanjo. It attracted another round of applause as he called on the two former heads of state to join him in unveiling the book. In his presentation speech, Obasanjo described the Chief Servant as a man who always tries to find practical solutions to practical problems. He said unlike many other critics and intellectuals who embark on theoretical solutions that are hardly practicable, the Chief Servant has proved, especially by this project, that only practical approach to governance could achieve the desired result. He then congratulated the Chief Servant and all those who worked together to make the publication a reality.
In their goodwill messages, Buhari and Babangida also congratulated the Chief Servant.
Governor Mohammed Danjuma Goje of Gombe State was impressed by not only the effort of the organisers in embarking on such a worthy publication but their ability to bring together three former heads of state. He said it was a demonstration of the fact that the political ideals preached in the book has starting working. He called on other politicians, especially past heads of state to emulate the spirit of camaraderie exhibited by the trio.
The donation segment of the programme was opened with the contribution of a whopping sum of N72 million naira from the 36 states of the federation. Thereafter, donations in cash, cheques and pledges poured in. And at the end of the event millions of naira was realised.
(c) Reported by SUMAILA UMAISHA and published in the 7/7/10 edition of New nigerian newspaper.
- Chief Servant Celebrates Birthday In Literary Style
Dr. Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has distinguished himself from the other governors not just in terms of his preference for the appellation of ?Chief Servant? instead of the official and prestigious ?Executive Governor?. He has become a governor...
- Niger Holds The First National Literary Colloquium In Grand Style
Chief Servant receiving letter of appreciation (in which the Writers' Village is named after him) from Gimba ...
- Umaisha Unleashes His Hoodlums On The Public
Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Isah Umaisha, an Associate Editor with the New Nigerian Newspapers, and Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, was presented to the public in Abuja,...
- Ana Salutes The Pioneer Of Hausa Literature
The 9th of July, 2009, could be described as ?The Abubakar Imam Day?. For it was the day in which the fond memories of the pioneer of Hausa Literature were ignited by the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, with an international colloquium in his honour....
- Gimba's Works In Perspective (report)
Some writers never get the recognition they deserve during their life times, they are discovered and celebrated only after they are dead and gone, while others bask in the glory of their literary exploits from the very beginning of their writing career....