A SPEECH BY Editor-in-Chief/President, ANA OSUN-OAU DURING THE INTER-UNIVERSITY PRIZE FOR POETRY

A SPEECH ON THE ROLE OF POETRY IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF INSURGENCY IN AFRICA; DELIVERED BY O. BUSAYO MFR THE PRESIDENT / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF  OF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN AUTHORS, OSUN STATE CHAPTER, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY BRANCH(ANA OSUN-OAU) AT PROFESSOR GBEMISOLA ADEOTI'S INTER-UNIVERSITY PRIZE FOR POETRY/ INTERNATIONAL POETRY SUMMIT; ON THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER, 2015  AT OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY'S  PIT THEATRE.

The National President of ANA

Dr. Abdullahi Denja.

The Chairman, ANA Osun State Chapter,

Mr. Oloyede Oyedele

The honoree

Professor Gbemisola Adeoti

Our Grand patron,

Professor Segun Adekoya.

The Chairman of this international poetry summit,

Professor Adebayo Lamikanra.

Our Own Living Legend,

Baba Jimi  Solanke.

Distinguished Guests, 

Travelers on the road of writing,

Great Ife Students,

Great Nigerian Students,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It must be noted that poets are not in short of words; they are just being economical with words. The history of the creation of this world will not be complete if credence is not laid to the role poetry played in the creation of this world.  God created this world with a poem of six lines. The first line of the poem which is " Let there be light" is a metaphor for moon, stars, morning,  noon , lightening, sight, clarity, understanding and  purity. These metaphorical declarations were borne out of the need for a nearly perfect human society to be brought to plate. You will agree with me that there is power in poetry; as it is also evident in the lyrical halleluyah that pulled down the mountain of Jericho. Up till this moment, the efficacy of the power of poetry is still as virgin as the unborn words.   

However, Nigeria is a metaphor of Africa and the pandemonium therein cannot be excused from other African countries.  The issue of insurgency in Nigeria, Chad, Baga  and cameroon had already been contemplated by some poets in their poems through different thematic enactments and several ways on how to prevent or give it  a decent burial were poetically foregrounded. Gbemisola Adeoti's "NAKED SOLES", Remi Raji's "THIS IS THE END", Segun Adekoya's "HERE AND THERE", Sola Owonibi's "HOMELESS NOT HOPELESS", Niyi Osundare's "SIREN" are all perfect examples of poems that had and have addressed the issues of insurgency in Africa. The theme of illiteracy, insensitivity, discrimination, greediness, corruption, neglection, segregation and poverty which are the offspring of bad leadership in Africa, climaxed to the deadly insurgency we have in Africa today.

To end insurgency in Africa, African leaders must embrace literature most especially,  the genre of poetry. Literature is no doubt a mirror through which we look how the picture of our live looks like; as it  reflects  the past, present  and future happenings. It is also of truth that poetry is like the air we breathe  in and out; something we cannot do without. The otherwise of which may lead to unprintable catastrophe. The Minister of Education should as a matter of urgency, necessity and duty, partner with the  National Body of the Association of Nigerian Authors in getting books and collection of poetry that will help the Nigerian Army in sending this monster to a grave exile. President Muhammadu Buhari should also be willing to read relevant collections of poetry that will help him in combatting insurgency in Nigeria as he his the commander-in-chief of the Armed forces. Association of Nigerian Authors is the intellectual bank of this country and their intellectual services should be well patronized as it would help the orders in power. 

Also, students from different parts of this country in their wits, love for Africa and mankind have been able to write poems that addresses the  issue of insurgency in Africa and how to give it a decent burial. These poems are not only timely, they are also capable of bringing peace back to Africa. The executive council of this association will ensure that all these poems are published in the association’s journal that will be launched by January  with the title: AFRICA AND INSURGENCY and a copy of which will be sent to the president of this country and the Chief of Army Staff.

In conclusion,  this programme is in honour of one of the best poet and scholar in the world, a man of letters, a traveler on the road of writing, a man whose wine is ink and letters, his holy communion. The man is no other person than Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, the Author of Naked Soles and the dean of the Faculty of  Arts of Obafemi Awolowo University. The literary works of Professor Gbemisola Adeoti have given birth to so many  writers in Nigeria and most significantly, young poets. His overwhelming creativity endeared him to us. On this note,  If I may ask; what is that good thing that you need that is not in poetry? With poetry, you have it all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for listening.