| Nigerian writers salute
Gov Aliyu
By Hassan Yahaya
Sunday,
April 27, 2008
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•Aliyu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Less than a week to the beginning of the first Northern Nigerian
Writers’ Summit, the literary community in Nigeria has
lavished praises on the Governor of Niger State, Babangida
Aliyu, for the unprecedented support to the summit and the
development of literature in the state and beyond.
Recently, the governor had received writers from the state
ANA chapter at Government House, Minna, and provided a piece
of land for writers’ resort, as well as promising to
assist in developing it.
Above all, he has provided a take-off grant of N2m for the
writers’ summit, accommodate all the delegates to the
summit and publish ANA Niger members.
The writers still hope that the governor could do more, especially
as the summit requires more than N15million to hold in Minna
next week, May 1- 4.
“The Chief Servant of Niger State’s relationship
with writers portends a great future for Nigerian nay, African
literature” – Hyacinth Obumseh, Assistant National
Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors
“Gov. Aliyu is continuing in a long agenda-setting trail
of Nigerlites leading the north: Abubakar Imam, Abubakar Gimba,
Yahaya Dangana, B M Dzukogi, Mohammed Haruna.
He should know that each of these great personalities contributed
with their own colours. He must not relent in lending his
all-important colour as a politician with foresight.
His name shall be appended, no doubt, if he lives true to
his promises” –Diego Okenyodo, Former National
PRO, North Association of Nigerian Authors.
“If in less than a year, the chief servant of Niger
state has done what we see on ground, then we are hopeful
that, in a couple of years to come, he will transform central
Nigeria to a Harlem of literary renaissance” –E.
E. Sule, Poet and Critic, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
“For writers, heroes are more fictional than real. Heroes
exist only in their imaginations; unfortunately, in our society,
heroes are hard to find. But –I dare say, Dr M A Babangida
is a hero – OUR HERO. A litany of literary support attests
to this. Too many to mention, they have culminated in this
unprecedented 1st Northern Nigeria Writers Summit” –Shagabo
Daniel Bala, Former Vice Chairman, ANA, Niger.
‘Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has brought intellectual
colour into the art’ I am not surprised to hear of the
unprecedented support he is giving to writers in Niger State.
Let him continue and even do more to make Niger a model for
other states in Northern Nigeria ” –Denja Abdullahi,
National Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors.
“It is heartwarming to note that there still exist great-
minded chief executives like the governor of Niger State,
Alhaji Muazu Babangida. His contributions to the renaissance
of literary works in the state are no doubt an attestation
of this. I hope other chief executive of states will seek
to emulate the worthy examples of the Talban Minna by contributing
to the development of literature in Northern Nigeria as well.
This will no doubt help to create a - Usman Akanbi, Association
of Nigerian Authors, Kwara Branch.
“Finally, we get a proof (especially in ANA Niger),
that politics is not solely about loud, magnificent but empty
words. With the initial take-off grant of N2m by the chief
servant of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, (Talban
Minna), for the 1st Northern Nigeria Writers Summit, and a
promise to publish members of ANA Niger, writers from this
corner of the world, can take a breath of fresh air, confident
that we have only witnessed the first stride in a long purposeful
and profitable journey together” –Pmabi Ayuba,
Former Secretary, ANA Niger
“Talban Minna has no doubt shot Niger State into an
unprecedented limelight, his support to the Northern Nigeria
Summit of writers is a further attestation of the chief servants
quest for societal growth and the quest for Niger state and
Nigeria’s advancement amongst comity of nations. Nigerian
writers couldn’t have wished for a worthier patron”
–Alkasim Abdulkadir, National PRO, North, Association
of Nigerian Authors.
“The Association of Nigerian Authors received with
joy and gratitude, Gov. Babangida’s recent highly impressive
package for the Niger State ANA Chapter. The package which
is unprecedented in the annals of Government/NGO relationship
will go along way in improving the poor reading culture in
the country” – Hon. Dr Wale Okediran, National
President, Association of Nigerian Authors
“In ANA Niger, we have never had it so good. It is a
result of painstaking literary programmes of the branch. Talba’s
activism in governance can only find partners in writers.
He has given us a piece of land for Minna Writers Resort.
He gave us a take-off grant for the 1st Northern Nigeria Writers
Summit, he has promised to publish members of the association
this year, the state government is taking responsibility for
accommodating over three hundred delegates to the NNW summit,
I doubt if there is any ANA branch with this kind of goodwill
from their governor… We are quite honoured with what
Talba has done for us” –B.M.Dzukogi, Vice Chairman,
LOC. 1st NN Writers Summit.
“The effort by the Niger State governor is commendable
and worthy of emulation by other northern governors. He is
a superb example Ahmadu Bello’s one north one destiny!”
–Omale Allen Abduljabar, Chairman, ANA Plateau.
The prompt and precise responses given in support of the Northern
Nigeria Writers' Summit billed to hold in May 2008 in Minna
by Nothern Nigerian and/or Nigerian Stake holders/ leaders
has not only shown the emergence of a new and more dedicated
leadership in Northern Nigeria but a leadership that 'READS'
and is focused towards the development of the arts and in
essence the generality of the Northerners. Talba, Kingibe,
Modibbo, Adaga, Iredia, et al, have indeed distinguished what
leadership 'was' and what leadership 'is' in Nigeria. We're
indeed appreciative of their support so far” –
Awal Idris Evuti, Asst Sec ANA Niger, member LOC NNWS 2008.
The chief servant of Niger State knows the significance of
Literature in the society and that is why he is interested
in the forthcoming Northern Writers’ Summit and trying
to give it the support it deserves. He knows that prosperity
will prove him right – Kamar Hamza, former chairman,
ANA Niger
The fact the northern Nigerian Writer Summit is coming up
this year and in Minna, years after it was conceived, is a
very BIG PLUS to Chief Servant and Niger ANA. It is commendable,
it is timely, it is historic and sincerely welcomed. Dr Babangida
should be commended for taking the lead, in any case, as the
chairman of the northern governor forum, he is telling them
what to do with us-writers.
We thank you chief servant and we pray Allah will continue
to be your eyes and ears, your mind and hands. Well done and
kewano!” – Dr. Yusuf M Adamu Geography Dept. BU,
former chairman, ANA Kano.
“I find the support of the Governor of Niger State
so amazing and welcoming. I am sure it bespeaks his intellectual
bent. There is also no doubt that my ever impressive members
of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Niger Chapter deserve
this, for their abiding commitment to writing and literature
by the way they bind and board their way to ANA conventions
every year in state-sponsored buses. The national EXCO ought
to by now have rewarded their growing number and commitment
with an award for other chapters to emulate.
I thank Governor Babangida for this, and look to a great writers'
summit and not an over-bloated education summit. Thanks Gov”
– Chike Ofili, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors,
Lagos chapter.
“Dr. Muazu Babangia is an outstanding individual. By
supporting the activities of Nigerian writershe has successfully
printed his name on the moon. Nigerian writers need more of
such gestures from other highly placed individuals. May God
reward him abundantly” – Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor,
General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja
chapter
“Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, the Niger State Chief Servant,
will continue to surprise me with his unabashed love for writers
and education generally.
Hitherto an unknown quantity, he has continually seemed to
me like an onion, which keeps unraveling itself as one goes
about exploring it. We are proud of his leadership. We should
adopt him henceforth as one of us; possibly immotalize him,
when the time comes, for his role in our growth and development”
– Ahmed Maiwada, Poet and Critic |
