It is morally wrong
to criticise the government you serve –Civil servant
and creative writer, Soji Obebe
From MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, ABEOKUTA
Tuesday,
December 11, 2007
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•Obebe
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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For Soji Obebe, a director with the Ogun-Oshun Rivers Development
Authority (OORDA), his executive position does not prevent
him from writing particularly when he noticed that many Nigerians
have not inbibed reading culture. Poor reading culture according
to the writer, affects the people adversely as it reflects
in the way people speak and write.
As part of his contribution to the growth of knowledge, the
civil servant deplored his energy to writing. So far, he has
demonstrated it with his publications. Beside those that he
had succeeded in publishing, Ebebe also has in his kitty unpublished
manuscripts.
Asked how he manages to write books despite his tight schedules,
the writer said: "To me, writing is not only a hobby
but something that gives me joy, because invariably I’m
also contributing to knowledge".
Some people may think there is money in writing, but I don’t
think so. I write because I want to encourage people to read
and know the world around them.
How I started
Obebe said that his writing dates back to his secondary school
days, when he was 15 years old. " when I was in form
three, one of my teachers discovered that I was good in writing
and he did everything possible to encourage me. As young as
I was then, I wrote an essay titled The Disadvantages of Literacy
which was adjudged the best among other works. That was how
my talent as a writer was discovered and I thank God for it.
The OORBDA’s Director confessed that his choice of Mass
Communication was borne out of his desire to fire his writing
skill. " I must confess to you that my writing skill
was further inspired by writings of popular newspaper columnists
like the late Labanji and Tola Adeniyi of the Tribune, and
one Omo Ekun.
Type of writing
I write fiction writer and derive joy from writings that revolve
around my society. Events and vicissitudes of life propel
me. I published many stories in the defunct Evening Sketch
where I was usually given some token for my efforts. I was
also a critical writer of government, particularly before
I joined the public service. But in the past, I was a fiery
critical of government, particularly during the military era.
I later found out that It would be morally wrong and difficult
for me to work for the government and at the same time criticise
the same government. So I stopped criticising government,
and I changed to creative writing.
Inspiration
I am inspired by happenings around me as well as from the
books I read. I must Publications
I have written four books. Some of them are being used in
the Federal Polytechnic and the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic
in Ilaro and Abeokuta , Ogun State respectively. They are
"A ticket for regrets" "Where lies the honour",
Mind to atone, and "A u-turn to grief."confess that
as a writer, I read a lot of novels, newspapers, journals
and magazines. I read books that come my way; including religious
books.
My genre
It is difficult to classify my writing because I write on
anything that catches my interest. One exception is that I
don’t write on anything that’s obscene because
I’m a Christian believer.
Where I write
Most of the time, I write at home. I hardly write in the office,
because people disturb me a lot in the office. I write better
when I am alone, particularly when my wife and children are
not around. I am at my best either in the evening or at night.
How I write
I write as the ideas flow. If an idea comes to me when I’m
in the office, I will just scribble it down and develop it
later. Once I have a clear vision of what I want to write,
I will approach it chapter by chapter.
Writer’s bloc
I don’t know how it affects to other writers. At times,
I would have planned something only to discover that as good
as the idea was initially, I would not know how to gather
my thoughts again. There are a lot of stories that I started
well, but when writers bloc set in, I would just put them
aside. I have a lot of unfinished manuscripts like that.
My first novel
It was on corruption and it remains an unpublished work up
till this moment. I wrote it between 1982 and 1984 when I
was at the university. The book was entitled Chain of Corruption
I sent the script to Macmillan (Assessors) in London . It
was returned to me with a foot-note that they did not reject
it, but advised me that when I write another one, I should
send it to them.
I have also sent my manuscripts to other publishers including,
Spectrum but I’ve not received favourable a reply from
them. Unfortunately, most of the events and issues raised
in the manuscript have been overtaken by events.
Challenges
As a writer, I face the challenge of time constraint. There
are some social engagements which a serious writer must avoid.
Another challenge that I face is people don’t seem to
like reading. It is discouraging and disheartening that the
percentage of those who read in Nigeria is low. For me I don’t
attach much importance to the financial gains from my works,
but the criticisms the works attract. I like receiving positive
or negative responses to my writings. Criticisms spur me to
write more. A writer who is not read will be discouraged.
Mentors
I enjoy Chinua Achebe a lot. I enjoy reading other foreign
authors too. I would have loved reading Salman Rushdie, but
one of his controversial books. Satanic Verses, I don’t
seem to enjoy his writings. He does not flow as I expected.
There are other foreign writers who write better. He writes
long sentences. I am not trying to condemn him, I am only
saying that his sentences are winding
Advice to young writers
My candid advice is that young writers should not write for
money. They should have at the back of their mind that they
want to contribute to knowledge.
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