Category: Arts & Life

Sefi Atta, a trained accountant is the author of three novels and a number of plays. Penultimate week, she presented her latest work, A Bit of Difference to the public in Lagos and had time to interact with fellow artistes and journalists. Edozie Udeze recounts that event

Penultimate weekend, the art community in Lagos gathered in large number to celebrate one of their own. It was a day when Sefi Atta, one of the foremost writers of her generation presented her latest novel – A Bit of Difference to the public. The occasion did not only offer artistes and art enthusiasts the opportunity to interact with Atta, it was equally a rare moment to discuss many issues affecting writers and writings in Nigeria and other societies across the globe.

And in the course of the intellectual discourse that followed, Atta was able to handle issues on a wide range of areas. From marriage to writing, to racism, to religious matters, and so on, Atta zeroed in on her style of writing, what informs her themes and why racism outside the African continent has become a global issue. Even the story of Deola Bello, which she handles in A Bit of Difference, critically examines life in and outside Nigeria.

At 39 years of age, Deola, a Nigerian expatriate in London, is dissatisfied with being single and working overseas. She works as a financial reviewer for an international charity. And when her job takes her to Nigeria in time for her father’s five-year memorial service, she finds herself turning her scrutiny inward. At home here in Nigeria, Deola encounters changes, deep-rooted changes for that matter, in her family and in the urban landscapes of her home. Now, new acquaintances offer her more unexpected possibilities. Her return, therefore, exposes the changes in her society and those of other foreign lands where she has been living for too long.

Here in this story, like Atta reveals, she uses Deola’s voice to unearth the various images of Africa and the realities of the contemporary Nigerian life. Deola’s voice is incisive, precise, strong and urgent. She captivates the intricate nature of a society at the crossroads of confusion, a society where everything happens, yet there is no decisive and concerted action to show that there is any meaningful progress in sight. The situation is so pathetic that Atta shows how precarious that can be when compared with life being lived across other more developed continents of the world.

Instructively, Atta handled the interactive session with the precision and boldness of a writer well attuned to her art. When asked if her exposure abroad has helped her to see the Nigerian situation more clearly, she said, “Well, I think I write what I see and what I experience. Even though I went to live abroad (Mississippi, USA) in 1977, I come home often not only to mingle but to also see my people. In other words, I don’t have any other writing experience but what I see in my own country. And this is what I write about all the time.”

Even though as a writer, Atta comes home and is equally grounded in the affairs of the nation, she agrees that the year 2012 was very productive for her. “I did pretty well in 2012 even though at 49, I wish I can slow down a bit. You can see that the speed is no longer as high as it used to be. Mine has been good because I deliberately concentrate attention on social issues when I write. There is plenty to write about in this country”, she reveals, smiling in the process.

Asked to comment on the problem of racism and tribalism in America and Nigeria respectively, Atta replied, “Racism is rampant outside the shores of this country. Although it is more carefully applied now, it is still there and will continue to be there. Even in churches in Mississippi where I live, people discriminate along colours and creeds. Here too in Nigeria, ethnic problems abound. But my greatest worry is that life is so cheap in Nigeria. And coupled with that, nothing gets done by government and so the society remains redundant; remains unprogressive year in year out. And so in the midst of all these, a writer’s work has to develop, has to come from somewhere. It is for me then to look deeper, to observe, to ask questions, to interact with my people in order to produce my stories,” she added, while the gathering gave their acclaim.

After three novels, one of which has been so well acclaimed (Something Good Will Come), Atta agrees that she is happy but not yet satisfied. “I love what I have done so far as a writer. Even as a trained accountant, I often think as a writer and no writer is ever satisfied. We keep imagining, pushing on, thinking and trying to better ourselves … Yes, I don’t want to be seen as a famous writer. I hate the word famous. I only want to be recognised for what I do. Recognition for me is good for a writer. Let the world see and recognise and appreciate what I do.”

As a writer, Atta said she hates to discuss other people’s work in public or to draw comparison therefrom. “I respect other authors and hate to say whether their works are good or bad. Every writer has something to offer, even though we know there are bad writings too. For me therefore, I just use what happens to me and to people around me to justify my stories. Before I begin to write, I first dream up the story. Essentially, my books explore how women make it in a patriarchal society like ours. It surprises me too how these women find time to overcome issues and become strong in such a society like Nigeria,” she said.

Asked if she is a feminist writer and whether marriage should be a binding factor for young girls, Atta first played on the issue thus, “Ah you don’t have to be dictated to by the society,” she grinned, turning round to face the large audience. “Well, for me, if you want to marry, go on ahead and do so. After all, there has to be continuity in the society. If you don’t want to get married and then as you approach 40 years, what happens? What do you do at that age? It is not my duty though to dictate to you or decide for you what to do.”

Concerning feminism which many said reflects a lot in her works, she declared, “I don’t even know what feminism means or what it stands for. But if it means people reading my works and identifying whatever that is in it, I don’t mind. For me, it is the news from home that matters so much.”

On the whole, Atta promised to do more plays now, which she confessed is less stressful. “I even started out as a playwright. I wrote plays for the BBC which were broadcast. For me, my plays have to have plenty of Nigerian issues, and scenes and events in order to identify with my audience. Although a play is not easier to write, it gives me less pain to do so. Hopefully, I want to write more plays henceforth,” she stated.

Atta who attended the event in company of her husband, daughter and mother, demonstrated how much strength she draws from her family. Also in attendance were Lagos socialite and former commissioner in the state, Wale Edun, Ogun State commissioner for Health, and son of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Olaokun Soyinka, London-based Nigerian writer, Chibundu Onuzo. Others were human rights activist and researcher, Ogaga Ifowodo, culture activist, Toyin Akinosho, and many writers and journalists.

Exhuming corpses to make money is becoming a booming trade in Ogun State. But the Police insist the illicit trade won’t subsist with the arrest of three suspects, including a Pastor. Tunde Busari reports

Wasiu Bakare never imagined that the slight sickness that took his wife, Monsurat, to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State would alter the course of his life. He was optimistic for a happy reunion with her in a matter of days, especially given the sign that her condition was improving by the day.

But this never was! Monsurat, on October 23, 2009, breathed her last. Bakare was shattered. The shock was too overwhelming for him to bear even two years after the tragedy. When he was gradually picking himself up and facing the onerous task of meeting another responsible wife, one Mattew Akiode brought another round of sorrow to him and his children.

Akiode, in the most callous manner, went to the burial site of Bakare’s late wife, dug the grave and severed the head. He alleged that he was contracted by one Micheal Oyewole, an Abeokuta-based Pastor of a white garment church to supply the human skull.

Bizarre trade

Bakare nearly passed out when he was told of the odd incident which had attracted the residents of Orelope village, Sabo where he was developing the property on which he buried his wife.

The 45-year-old recalled: “It sounded like I was not the person concerned. This is because I never ever thought that such a thing could happen to anybody I know, talk less of me. I did not know that what I read in the newspapers about these heartless people is true until this happened.”

According to him, he had no reason to doubt the character of Akiode whom he could easily vouch for as hardworking young man. This is the image with which many other people in Sabo area and even beyond also know Akiode that they regularly contracted him to do one job or the other for them, particularly when he is off his bricklaying vocation.

It is for this reason that made Bakare asked him to clear his site being threatened by wild plants. He had earlier tried his hand on the job but found it too heavy to confront. Hence his resort to Akiode on August 28, 2012 with a belief that he would in no time give value for the N2000 he was to offer him.

The money meant so much to Akiode considering that he was passing through a hard time occasioned by lack of job at hand. So, the job brought the much needed relief to him and he quickly went to the site with his tools.

While he was busy with cutting the plants, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, reminding him of another contract Oyewole had earlier given him, which, according to him, he declined because of the danger associated with it.

His fear, however, evaporated into thin air the moment he remembered that N6000 awaited him if he could do Oyewole’s bidding. He roared within and made for the grave of Bakare’s wife.

“I did not spend much time to dig and remove the skull I needed. I quickly kept it inside a black nylon I found in the bush. Then I made some attempt to call Pastor to tell him that I had got what he had asked me to get to make N6000,”he said.

To Akioye, the act was a fait accompli and in a record time too. However, one man was some metres away on an elevated platform watching him with disbelief. The man identified as Olalekan Azeez, was trimming fronds on palm tree in an adjoining compound.

The fear-stricken Azeez could not shout but found his way down and thought of what to do. The thought that a man who could open a grave could crush any obstacle on his way sent jitters down his spine, yet Azeez was determined to expose Akiode.

Not long afterwards, a group of men emerged on the way from their union gathering held in the area. Azeez ran to them and quickly alerted them of the incident. They rushed to the scene but Akiode was smart enough to have refilled the grave and covered it with grass to give a false look.

“At first, I was confused because the whole thing did not appear as if he was the one I saw. There was no trace that the grave had been tampered with. But suddenly I came to my sense and insisted that we should search everywhere.

“We removed the grass from the grave’s surface and saw a fresh earth. This first reassured me. Other people were also searching the surrounding while two of them held Akiode. After some effort we saw the black nylon inside which the skull was kept and we shouted. That was how we caught him and alerted other neighbours in the area,” Azeez said.

Akiode instantly lost his early confidence and owned up to the crime. While he was frantically pleading for clemency, the people headed for the Ilupeju Divisional Police Headquarters. Akiode became a celebrity of sorts at the Division as everyone who heard his alleged crime rushed to catch a glimpse of a man who desecrated another person’s tomb.

He was transferred to the Homicide section at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweeran, Abeokuta. It was during interrogation that he spilled the beans. He pointedly named Oyewole as the brain behind his sacrilegious act.

“The Pastor also gives me jobs to do like other people. One day as I was doing a job for him he asked for how long would I do the menial job to make good money. He said if I could get him human skull I would make something better than was I was earning from the menial job I was doing. I was scared when I heard this.

“I was scared because I did not expect such a thing from the man who has a church. I did not give him an answer on that day. I just laughed and continued with my work. So when the thought came to me again on the day I was broke I said to myself that I would do it if I see any grave in inconspicuous area. I said doing this is better than taking gun to kill,” Akiode said.

Some policemen who were familiar with Oyewole’s name first cast a doubt on the allegation but further probings, especially on the telephone conversation between him and Akiode after the act melted the doubt. In a jiffy, a team stormed the town in search of Oyewole. The effort paid off as he was brought to Eleweeran.

Oyewole would later deny the allegation Akiode made against him. Although he admitted a relationship with Akiode as he had earlier stated, he took an exemption on the role Akiode alleged he played in hunting for human skull.

“I would not know why this man is making this allegation against me. I would not know the wrong I have done him to punish me with this allegation. I am a man of God in the service of God. I am satisfied with what God has done for me so far. Then why should I involve myself in this type of dirty thing? I know my God is there watching all over what is hidden to man,” he said as if he were before his congregation during a service.

Oyewole’s claim of innocence could not bail him out of the mess as he was detained and charged to the Magistrate Court 1 at Isabo on September 5. Both Oyewole and Akioye were charged for Conspiracy and Unlawful possession of human skull. The case was adjourned to October 10 after which it was further adjournment till November 21.

Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police confirmed the on-going prosecution of the suspects but declined further comment on the matter.

Adejobi, however, commended the effort of the investigating team which handled the matter to the conclusive end, thereby necessitating the prosecution devoid of delay. He said it took meticulousness of his men to establish a strong link between the suspects to the crime.

“From our end here, we have done what was expected of us in a matter like this and we do hope that the Court also will do justice to the matter when it finally rules,” the PPRO said.

While Akiode and Oyewole are battling with sleepless nights over the likely punishment awaiting them in the court, one Olorunwa Jimoh is also in trouble for a similar offence. Like Akiode, Jimoh also confessed that his business albeit illegitimate is to search for graveyards from which he exhumes corpses in Ago-Iwoye.

It was gathered that one Otunba Adekoya, a resident of Adekoya Street in the town, caught him in the act on September 17 after which he raised alarm, culminating in his arrest and detention at the Ago-Iwoye Divisional Police Headquarters.

The unusual confidence which Jimoh exuded in the presence of policemen painted a picture of an unrepentant man. He even justified his act as a means to survive what he called the hard time.

“What everybody is looking for is what to eat. This is my own means of making money to feed myself. Abore is the one who buys any part I take to him,” he said defiantly.

The Police have since commenced a search for Abore who is said to have fled Ago-Iwoye soon after the news of Jimoh’s arrest broke.

The Police, however, have decided to keep sealed lips on the update of the search. “We cannot tell you how far we have gone so that it won’t affect our job. But I can assure you that he would be fished out to confirm or deny the allegation,” the PPRO said.