Soludo, family, friends remember Chinua Achebe 10 years after death

Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo joined family and friends of the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe to celebrate his memory on Sunday at the Anglican Church in his home town, Ogidi.

The Governor who joined other prominent indigenes of the ancient community and friends which include Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation recalled his encounter with the works of the renowned novelist in his younger days as a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Achebe wrote the world acclaimed classics; Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, No Longer at Ease, Anthill of the Savannah, Man of the People among other fictional works.

In his later years, he wrote There Was a Country, a book that remains controversial for its recollection of the Biafra civil war between 1967-1970.

Governor Soludo wrote: “I was at St. Phillips Anglican church today for the 10 years memorial service in Honour of the late literary sage, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

“My first physical encounter with Prof. Achebe was in 1982 at the CEC quadrangle, University of Nigeria Nsukka where he delivered a lecture. Before then, I, like many young people in my time, had encountered Achebe through his works. I held him in awe as he shaped my perspective of life and eventual entry into politics.

“Achebe was not just some literary icon who wrote about “how” things should be. He made far-reaching attempts to positively effect the change he wanted to see. Not many know that Achebe joined the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) where he played partisan politics in the second republic. At some point the highly revered Professor Chinua Achebe was the President General of Ogidi. For me, these are the things that distinguished him.

“We will continue to celebrate the legacies of this illustrious Anambra Son and global citizen. Beyond the modest attempt of the Ogidi people, the State government will find a more scaled up opportunity to immortalize this sage.

“May his soul continue to rest in peace.”

Achebe who once rejected the National Honours conferred on him in 2003 by the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration died in Boston, United States in March 2013 at the age of 82.