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  • Author recounts near rape experiences

    The need for more stringent measures to check the increasing cases of rape came to the fore at the presentation of a book, She Tells It All, at Landmark Towers on Victoria Island, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    Advocates against rape have called for more stringent measures to check its increase in  the country. The call was made at the presentation of a book, She Tells It All, at Landmark Towers, Victory Island, Lagos State. The book, written by Access to Basic Medical Care (ABC) Foundation Chief Operating Officer, Dolapo Oyedipe, is a story of her near rape experiences, and a call to action booklet, highlighting portions of the nation’s law relating to rape.

    “I wrote the book to impact the society on some aspects of my life and some incidents that occured, which I have always felt the need to shout out to families, and to other girls and women. By taking this bold step in being a voice that can be heard, I am hoping that others as well can make a positive change in their lives, knowing that it is never too late to speak out,” said Oyedipe.

     

    The recollection

     

    She shared her near rape experiences, saying: “My near rape experiences were in broad day light. I was always decently dressed, but these men still made the attempt. My first near rape experience occurred when I was about 10 years old. My mother had warned me not to go to the neighbouring convenience shops nor should I run errands for anyone. But, on this fateful day, a relative came to the house and instructed me to buy something for her at one of the convenience stores nearby, despite my initial protests.

    “She persuaded me to go since it was not far and I would be back in a few minutes. I skipped along, happy to be able to run an errand. When I got to the store, there was no one there. I shouted for attention, I was eventually invited to come inside the room by the store. I was met by a man, who was probably in his thirties. Immediately after I informed him of what I needed to buy, he started taking off his clothes, which I found strange, and I kept remembering my mother’s voice saying I should ‘never be in a room alone where a man is taking off his clothes’.  In instant reaction, I screamed as he advanced towards me, while also attempting to pull off my dress. My voice attracted the attention of other people in the vicinity, who demanded that the door be opened immediately and I was saved from the hand of the perpetrator.”

    She continued: “Another near rape incident occurred to me when I was about 14 years old. I was alone at home as my parents had gone to work and my younger brothers were also not at home. I was lying on the settee, deeply engrossed in my Mills and Boon novel. After the closing hour, my father’s driver came in to drop off the car keys and I responded perfunctorily when he informed me that he wanted to drop off the keys.

    “Suddenly, I looked up and saw him advancing towards me smiling saying, ‘pretty girl, you know I like you’. To say I was stunned, shocked and afraid was to say the least, but I remembered my mum always advised me saying, ‘never be left alone in a room with a man. Always be vigilant’. I got up swiftly, managed to evade his glasses, ran past him and he kept protesting, but grinned and said words to the effect that ‘pretty girl, no one will hear you, you know I like you’.

    “I had two choices. I could either allow my father’s driver to rape me or I resist him with all that was within me. He backed me against a wall while attempting to remove his scruffy blue jean, which slowed down because of the belt he was wearing. When the opportunity presented itself, I quickly kicked his manhood. While he yelled in pain, I ducked and ran past him outside, hid behind a bush, till I heard my mother shout my name continuously. Immediately I got to her, she asked where I was and what was wrong with me because she saw that I was visibly shaken and I told her what happened. My mother was angry and informed my father.  The driver was sacked the following day after he resumed work as if nothing happened.”

     

    The call:

     

    While urging the public, especially women and girls to speak out against the menace openly, she observed that sexual assault is a feature that occurs every day.

    Oyedipe said: “Everyone should speak to their children at home, at work, in the church and mosques about sexual assault. As parents, you need to develop a relationship with your children. Fathers should be fathers and mothers should be mothers.  Sex should be something we speak about freely to our children; otherwise they will learn it from the wrong people.”

    “For each experience, I immediately recounted what happened. Nowadays, I wonder why there is always the fear of not telling anyone or reporting an incident, especially to our parents.  It could be due to the fear of being reprimanded or even blamed. But as girls, we must speak out so that those in a position of authority can act fast and take the necessary action, otherwise the culprit will not be caught and would act again.  Never blame yourself for any act done or about to happen to you.”

     

     

    The place of the law

     

    The chairman on the occasion, an engineer, Femi Odumabo, described the book as a significant effort to help contribute to the knowledge of how to handle the subject of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape and related matters.  While stating that the book is useful as a handbook to remind women, who have been assaulted in one way or the other that it is not the end of the world, he commended the author for stepping out of her comfort zone to put together the book, saying it is informative.

    “This book will help us to bring the knowledge base to the fore front as it highlights the major aspects of the subject because the author is a lawyer and has graciously highlighted the portions of law in Nigeria and how they relate to the subject. The book is also to remind ourselves that there is solace in breaking the silence; that our past will not define us and that in our own little way, we can make a change.”

    He observed that government has a role to play in ending sexual abuse, and therefore, called for the enforcement of normalcy in the society, including the law and justice rest with the government. He said: “It is the duty of the government to execute the required consequences on perpetrators such act of violence. And people will know that when they are caught, they will be reported and prosecuted.

    “The government are supposed to be the champion of campaigns against such and prosecution of perpetrators; all the other institutions, including churches, parent and mosques are agents, should be too. As known abroard that offenders are labelled such that anywhere they go, it will be on record that they are sex abusers. This is why I said government is the one that should know what to do when cases like sexual abuse come up.”

  • AMERICAN AUTHOR DONATES BOOKS TO MAGICAL BOOK CLUB

    AMERICAN children’s book author, Kathy Brodsky, has donated copies of her books to Children of Magical Book Club, a reading club for Nigerian children.

    Founder of the club, Oluwaseun Aina, had met Brodsky at the 2016 edition of the International Literacy Association Conference, a Global Reading Network in Boston, United States. While Brodsky donated her newest book, High Wire Act, to Aina during the conference, after some Skype sessions, Brodsky decided to donate her other books to the book club.

    “I felt this program was especially important because it’s bringing something about literacy to a population that is being ignored,” said Brodsky who is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

    Some of Brodsky’s books include Moments in Our Lives,  The Inside Story, Just Sniffing Around, Purrsnikitty, A Horse Named Special, Stover and The Winner Is.

    Brodsky also said Nigerian children should read more of Nigerian stories.

    “Nigeria has a rich history of storytelling that needs to be shared with the world,” the author, whose laurels include winning Book of the Year from Creative Child Magazine in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016 as well as being voted into the Top 10 in the International Literacy Association and Children’s Book Council’s Children’s Choice Reading List in 2014.

    “In particular, more children’s stories need to come out of the nations of Nigeria.  There are thousands of verbal stories handed down generation to generation that need to be captured in writing as the continent of Africa is unique to the world in so many ways.”

    Aina started Magical Book Club on December 14, 2009 with a belief that children who ‘fall in love’ with reading inadvertently become better readers and leaders.

    Praising Kathy’s writing style, Aina said that her imaginative and picturesque books have become very useful for children at the Magical Book Club.

    “Kathy’s books are very relevant to Nigerian schools and book clubs,” Aina said.

    “Children who read her books learn more about themselves, and their environment. Her books also have questions at the end to help spur discussion between parents/teachers and children. Children are encouraged to think deeply about themselves, their environment, research, write, draw, sing and do much more especially through her question guide at the end of each of her books.

    Omolola Tiamiyu, a 14 year old member of Magical Book Club said “High Wire Act is about the importance of traffic lights. Without traffic lights, there would be delay and disruption in the movement of cars and everybody would miss benefit of traffic light. Also, The winner is… is about a dog who tries to be like a cat to win a competition but the dog eventually learns not to copy anybody but to be himself. The same applies to us, sometimes we might want to be like someone else but we should be ourselves.”

  • Be creative and productive, author advises students

    Students of Kings University (KU) in Odeomu, Osun State, last weeek had exciting moments with Miss Ayobami Adebayo, a young author and scholar, who visited the institution for a talk on book-reading programme.

    Miss Adebayo, who spoke to them on Undergraduates and the necessity of creativity in an increasingly competitive world, urged the students to design their future plans while in school, noting that their future had started to unfold the moment they got admitted into a higher institution.

    She gave examples of notable youths, who initiated great ideas while they were students. The young author charged the KU students on innovation and productivity, urging them to develop skills that would make them self-reliant after their undergraduate studies.

    She said: “Do not allow anyone to look down on you because you are young. Work on and improve your productivity. The time to start preparation for the person you want to become in future is now. The claim that life will begins after university is not true. Social media is useful for achieving your dreams, but do not let it become an addiction to you. You must also understand that where you are does not matter in who you become.”

    The author of Stay with me, a fictional series, urged the students to not give up on innovation and creativity. According to her, it requires exceptional creativity to survive in Nigeria.

    She said: “There is an advantage to be derived from a dysfunctional system. We must begin to work towards doing something great and exceptional. We must create value and we must be consistent in doing so. If we manage our time well and continually improve on ourselves, there is no place in the world we would not compete with anybody.”

    After the interaction with the students, Miss Adebayo read from Stay with me, her new work which was published in the United Kingdom and short-listed for this year’s Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Diran Famurewa, appreciated the author for honouring the university’s invitation to speak and read from her work.

    The VC said: “This programme constitutes another effort we are making as a university to fulfil our vision of raising quality leaders, innovative minds and visionary job creators that will transform Nigeria in all critical areas. These kinds of programmes are critical to the actualisation of our vision. It is for this reason that we have decided to make this kind of event regular in our calendars from semester to semester.”

    The occasion was graced by other principal officers of the university and the deans of faculties. There were also performances by students.

    The highpoint was presentation of gifts to the author by the Registrar, Mrs Dorothy Salami, who enjoined students to learn from the rise of the author.

    The Librarian, Folu Akindojutimi, thanked Miss Adebayo for donating copies of her books to the institution.

  • Group honours author 

    The National Association of Niger Delta Students has honoured an author, Dr Benjamin Onoriode Irikefe.

    This followed the public presentation of his book: “Handbook of Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment Programmes”, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    Irikefe was given the “Niger Delta Personality of Inestimable Value and Role Model to The Younger Generation” award.

    At a well-attended ceremony in Warri, Delta State, the National President of the student body, Lucky Emonefe, presenting the award to Irikefe,  said the student group had watched his activities, describing him as trainers’ trainer, not only in Niger Delta, but in the entire country.

  • Author debunks publisher’s claim

    Mr Ayobami Hanif Muhammed, the author of the book: ‘The last days at Forcados High School’ has debunked claims that he is in any  arbitration with Cassava Republic (CR), publishers of the book.

    Muhammed also denied claims by the Cassava Republic that both the Nigerian Copyright Commission and ICPC, took little interest when the disagreement between the two parties over alleged copyright abuse was reported to them.

    Last month, Muhammed addressed a briefing where he alleged a breach of contract on the part of the publisher.

    Muhammed recounted how CR entered into a contractual agreement with JAMB to use the book for candidates’ General English between 2014  and 2017. He alleged that the publisher short-changed him for the aforementioned years.

    Cassava Republic has since debunked the author’s claims, saying the two lawyers he initially engaged to meet with them  withdrew when they found no substance in his (Mohammed) case.

    However, speaking through his lawyer Ajayi  Fatoki, Muhammed alleged that the publisher attempted to intimidate his two previous lawyers in order to force them to a compromise; hence the need for him to change them.

    He said: “My previous counsel suggested the option of arbitration after a mediatory meeting that failed last May. However, no arbitration case was filed because arbitration involves the consent of two parties and I did not give my consent.

    Muhammed continued: “The case has been filed for litigation in the Federal High Court with appropriate suit no last month after all attempts at peaceful discussion in the past year failed irretrievably with them (CR) to abide by contractual terms due to their recalcitrance by insisting next payment on a reduced royalty rate which we didn’t agree upon. They also persistently refused to pay on registered candidates according to terms of agreement. I also believe they made efforts to intimidate and engage my previous lawyers to my detriment hence the need to change them. They were also supposed to effect payments much earlier according to my contract,” Muhammed said…

    Muhammed said he is glad that JAMB which signed an agreement with Cassava Republic to use the book for its candidates for a contractual year, owned up to being in custody of over 1.3 million copies, adding that by that alone, the published has an obligation to make payment for that.

    Fatoki wondered why Cassava Republic had to supply JAMB an additional 1.3 million copies if the agreement was truly for a two- year period.

    As against the publisher’s claim, Muhammed said he informed ICPC because the publisher had earlier insisted that the copy of the agreement must be submitted to the Commission; hence his compliance. Besides, he denied ever taking the case to ICPC.

    “I never made any communication to the ICPC on the matter. Maybe it’s their conscience or they have another case with the ICPC,” Muhammed said.

  • Author threatens publisher, JAMB with litigation

    Author threatens publisher, JAMB with litigation

    THE author of ‘The last days at Forcados High School’ Mr Ayobami Hanif Muhammed, is threatening a legal action against Cassava Republic, publishers of the book, for breach of contract.

    Muhammed said his legal battle wouldalso extend to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for allegedly defrauding him.

    At a briefing at the University of Lagos at the weekend, Muhammed and his lawyer, Ajayi Rahseed Fatoki, said they had filed an action against Cassava Republic, adding that JAMB would be notified soon.

    Mohammed recounted how he wrote the book as an undergraduate of Medicine in University of Lagos in 2006 and forwarded the manuscript to Cassava Republic, then a new publishing firm which accepted and published it in 2013.

    A year after, Muhammed said Fafunwa Education Foundation, picked interest in the book, recommended it for JAMB which adopted  it to be used  by candidates for General English for three consecutive years ( between 2014-2017), after the book has survived the board’s rigorous screening. Thereafter, Muhammed said he and the publisher were contacted, but since he had already entered into an agreement with the publisher, he felt there was no need to be at the negotiation between the publisher and JAMB, hoping the former would represent his interest.

    According to him, both parties signed an agreement to issue each copy of the book to all candidates that bought JAMB registration form within the years mentioned.

    Muhammed said: “After this, the publisher contacted me and to my shock started making efforts to compel me to deviate from my contract by agreeing to a lower royalty rate, citing discount. She first tried to get me to agree to a net royalty; this means all cost which ordinarily should be borne by the publisher, would be deducted from the author’s share. When I refused, she then suggested halving my royalty due to ‘bulk’. I refused and then all sorts of pressure, pleadings and even blackmail were applied. They took advantage of the fact that I was not present at any of the discussions and refused to show me the agreement they had with JAMB which they were contractually obliged to show me. After all this, I agreed to a reduction of 4.5 per cent royalty. This was, however, for the first year. Each year would be negotiated between the author and publisher.”

    After the first sale in 2014-2015, Muhammed said he received a statement from the publisher, stating that 1,295,963 copies of the book were sold as against JAMB’s official figure of 1,475,477. “I requested for an explanation for the discrepancy and the reply I got was ‘JAMB paid them (publisher) for the number of books picked up by students”,  noting that it was at this point he decided to inform his lawyer to arrange for a meeting, which yielded little or no outcome as the publisher continued to use different tactics to explain the discrepancy.

    He lamented that he had not received any royalty for 2015/2016, while JAMB has only decided to adopt the book only for Direct Entry candidates for this session.

    Earlier in the year, I was invited to an informal meeting with the  JAMB Registrar at which to my surprise, he tried to persuade me to agree with the publisher. When the UTME registration was announced for this year, I saw my book was for Direct Entry candidates, while another book by the same publisher was for the UTME. This was against what the publisher told me from the beginning and I did not give permission for my book to be used for ‘Direct Entry’ candidates”

    Fatoki lamented that ever since the agreement was signed, his client had not been obliged with a copy of it. Rather, Fatoki said the publisher has continued to employ varying tactics from subtle intimidation to threat.

    JAMB has, however, denied any informal meeting with Muhammed.

    The board’s spokesperson, Mr Fabian Benjamin, said JAMB entered into an agreement with Cassava Republic and as such is only answerable to it and not the author.

    ‘’I am not aware of any informal meeting you talked about,”  Benjamin said.

    “As I’m talking to you, we still have over a million copies of the book in our custody. If you were a businessman and you found yourself in my shoes, would you just allow those books to waste away like that?  I do not wish to talk about the life span of that contract. The author should talk to his publisher.’’

    But the management of Cassava Republic has described Muhammed’s claim as tissues of lies.

    It said it exhibited transparency with Muhammed all through the process of the said agreement.

    In an e-mail sent to The Nation, the management wondered why Muhammed had to rush to the press after he had already instituted a legal proceeding against the publisher.

    The statement reads: “It is surprising that our author, Hanif Mohammed, would call a briefing at this stage, rather than allow the legal process he initiated to take effect.  After consultation with our legal team, we have provided as much information as we can under the circumstances, without jeopardising the ongoing legal process.

    ‘’Please note that prior to his most recent legal team, the author has hired two previous sets of lawyers who, one after the other, informed our lawyer that on examination of the facts before them, they can no longer continue with the case.  You’ll also note that the same author has taken the case to the Copyrights Commission and ICPC. Both agencies took little interest in his version of events.

    ‘’My guess is that the author has decided to go to the media rather than wait for the legal process. I cannot, therefore, but think that his action is an attempt to diminish our company in the court of public opinion. It’s a pity, as Hanif has earned a sum well into the eight figures in royalties from the book.  It’s been a disappointing and upsetting process dealing with Hanif’s protestations when we have acted honourably to him throughout, as we always do with our authors.”

     

  • Time management key to young lawyers’ success, says author

    Time management key to young lawyers’ success, says author

    Abuja-based lawyer, Edify Yakusak, has identified proper time management and determination as critical to the success of young lawyers who wish to rise in their profession.

    Yakusak, author of the novel, After They Left, said despite her workload at the Law School, she was able to finish writing her book in three months.

    Determination and proper time division, she added, saw her through.

    Yakusak said: “It’s just determination. The three months I spent writing the book, I was at home doing my court attachment and I read a lot at the Law School, I don’t think I’ve read that much in my life. So, I didn’t have that much time.

    “I had to divide my time and say, from this time to this time I would do this, from this time to this time I would do something else. I used to read over 200 pages of school work a day, then I would write for some hours a day.”

    She noted that by publishing the book, writing had also become her profession

    “Writing is also my profession or I’m trying to make it my profession because I’ve not really keyed into law practice right now, no. It’s something I want to do, but it’s not my main focus. I’m trying to focus more on writing,” she said.

    Her love for writing, she added, comes first.

    On whether she had received any support for her book from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakusak replied: “No, I haven’t. Maybe because I haven’t asked.”

    She said while “After They Left” was fictional, it was inspired among other things, by the pains and hardship of insurgency in Northern Nigeria, including one in her mother’s village in Kaduna.

    “There was an attack in my mom’s village and there was this woman that had this baby that was still suckling. When the attackers came shooting one night, she shielded her baby with her body on the ground. In the morning survivors came out of hiding wailing and there were corpses everywhere. The woman was found dead. She had been shot, but her baby was still breastfeeding from its mom unaware she was dead. That sight was so heartbreaking.”

    Yakusak urged the government to find a solution to communal conflicts in the north.

    “I don’t think the government is doing enough to curb communal conflicts and attacks by herdsmen and others, though they are trying but I don’t think it is enough. The first step towards solving a problem is recognising it exists, which the government is yet to fully do.

    “I feel a lot more can be done, go to these communities and incorporate laws that will permanently solve the problem,” she said.

     

  • ANA kicks as court jails author

    A popular Bayelsa State-born author, Nengi Joseph Ilagha, has been jailed by the state High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The state chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) which disclosed the travails of Ilagha at the weekend in Yenagoa, called on the national body of ANA, human rights community and international organisations to help free its incarcerated member.

    The state Chairman, Mr. Michael Afenfia, said Ilagha was committed to prison following a judgement in a libel case between the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmund Daukoru and the author.

    Afenfia explained that a book Ilagha wrote, entitled, Epistles to Maduabebe, was the subject of litigation between Daukoru and the author.

    He said while Daukoru, who was a character in the controversial book, went to court demanding damages, Ilagha was not aware of the suit until the court ruled in the king’s favour.

    He said in the judgement delivered on March 27, 2013, the court awarded N30million damages and N80,000 cost against the author.

    Afefagha further explained that Ilagha was trying to have his day in court when the court ruled in another contempt suit filed by the king and committed him (Ilagha) to prison on December 14, 2015.

    He said the state leadership of ANA decided to speak on the issue to let the world know that such a prolific writer who had contributed immensely to the development of the state, was in detention.

    He said the body was seeking a resolution that would bring him out of the prison adding that Ilagha, whose works had touched lives, should not be allowed to rot in jail.

    He said ANA sent its legal team to the Okaka Prisons to find out the state of affairs and explore ways of appealing the judgement and reconciling the author with his kinsman, the king.

    He said: “We want Ilagha to know that we stand by him. Even though we are behind him, we stand for peace. We know how imprisoned we feel as authors if we are not able to freely express ourselves. We commiserate with his family.

    “We call on ANA national level, all lovers of justice and well-meaning Bayelsans to come and held us resolve this problem. There was no appeal and Ilagha had no opportunity to defend himself.

    “This opportunity should be availed him to speak and defend himself and stand by what he has written. We are considering appeal to enable him defend himself. He was not represented and he said he had no knowledge of the legal process until judgement was passed”.

    Throwing more light on the development, the Legal Adviser ANA, Mr. Murphy Briabebe said when Ilagha got wind of the 2013 judgement, he tried to contact a lawyer, but the lawyer died.

    He said the author wrote a letter to the judge demanding an opportunity to defend himself adding that Ilagha lacked knowledge of legal processes.

    “It was on the basis of contempt of court which is viewed as criminal that he was committed to prison. He is detained until he purges himself of the contempt. The process to free him is ongoing”, he said.

  • Here comes the lawyer-author

    Here comes the lawyer-author

    Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Adeola Ipaye launched his book titled: ‘Nigerian Tax Law and Administration’ at Muson Centre, Onikan. The event drew judges and lawyers, reports OLATUNDE ODEBIYI.

    The courtroom is the Lawyer’s playground, where he exhibits his skills, arguing cases. But the setting was different last Wednesday when Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Adeola Ipaye launched his book: “Nigerian Tax Law and Administration” at Muson Centre Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal (SAN), welcomed guests. He said the book is a contribution to the nation’s development and applauded the author for finding time to write it.

    Justice Amina Augie of the Court of Appeal, said the author was goal-oriented, describing him as an accomplisher.

    Book reviewer Tunde Fagbohunlu said the book has added a vital resource to the existing knowledge on tax law and administration. He described the work as “concise”, comprehensive and effective.

    Presenting the book, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said payment of tax should not be taken for granted in any society because there is no way the government can embark on projects without taxes.

    Renowned lawyer Prof Itse Segay (SAN), saluted Ipaye’s courage in writing the book.

    He described Ipaye as reliable, efficient, intelligent and proactive. “He is a man of excellence, It has been a pleasure meeting him and I have benefited much from our relationship”.

    The author said his experience as a teacher and the tax special assistant to former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu inspired him to write the book.

    He said: “Tax law and administration is an important topic, both in the legal and practical aspect.”

    He explained that the law and practice of taxation are complex because people naturally don’t want to pay and there are laws to it.

    “The book breaks down the topics into bits, such that people can understand; it can also serve as a textbook for those studying tax law in the university.”

    He said the book attempts a review of the major tax laws and the administration structures and processes by which they are implemented.

    “It covers the essential background details, including contextual definitions of terms and the basic rules of tax assessment, dispute resolutions and enforcement,” he said.

  • A great day for an author

    A great day for an author

    It was a great day for Ebikeme Gandhi Orubebe, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) as his two novels, Missing Daughters and Deserts were presented to the public.  The venue was Asaba, the Delta State capital and many important dignitaries had gathered to pour encomiums on the author for his painstaking efforts in writing the two books.  It was indeed an occasion for people like Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, Governor-General of the Ijaw nation and a former governor of Bayelsa State to remind Orubebe that writing is the best form of creating a legacy that would survive all the vicissitude and troubles of the world.

    “All the wealth you acquire in this world, all your buildings and assets and investments may soon fade away but your creative endeavor would be for all seasons and for generations yet unborn to make use of.  That is the whole essence and beauty of what you have done.  And we hope you’ll do more, you’ll write more books for the sake of prosperity so that forever, your name will be etched in gold,” he said.

    Amid pomp, jokes and entertainment, the author was praised for using the occasion of his service to the nation to prove that humility is a virtue that should not be alien to his kind of career.  A thorough-bred police officer, Orubebe utilised the slightest opportunity he had while in service to put pen to paper, thereby producing two classical books that mirror the Nigerian society and providing ways to not only forestall societal decays but encouraging parents to be of better cheer while indoctrinating their kids on the way forward.

    Professor Isidore Diala of the Imo State University, Owerri, who reviewed the two books pointedly made reference to history and how the process of literary creation in both of ancient and venerable origin…  “Therefore the myth confers on the writer the status of at least a demigod, hallows his pronouncements not only with a sense of inscrutable mystery but indeed with the aura of oracular injunctions…”

    He described the works of the author as someone who burnt the exalting midnight oil by highlight perspiration as the cost of inspiration.  And moreover as the critical filter for giving to airy nothing a local habitation and a name.”  Indeed Orubebe excelled when others feared to make efforts.

    For Professor B.E.B. Nwoke, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Imo State University who delivered an inspirational speech, Orubebe was an inspiration to many when he served in Imo State.  He said “He believes in the fundamental principles of life.  Orubebe works to encourage humanity and to ensure that human dignity is not only improved upon but made better for all and sundry.  He believes that man is made to learn from his past, from his mistakes so as to gear up for better things in the future.”

    To Nwoke, it is time for people, for the whole society to learn a sense of duty from the likes of Orubebe, who in spite of their exalted offices chose to be humble so as to impact positively on the society.  As a professional, Orubebe discountenanced greed, avarice and ingratitude, using the fear of God to serve mankind.”

    As he spoke he drew the attention of the guests to the many essential elements that make a man of reputation quite relevant and ever useful to the society.  These rare qualities of the author were not only re-echoed by Chijioke Uwasomba of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ife, Osun State, who handled proceedings, but he also gave vent to the event as the best way to honour a literary guru whose works tackle serious societal issues.

    Uwasomba promised to encourage the author to go on a nationwide reading tour of his works.  To him, the beauty of such an exercise is to promote the writer and his works.  Beyond that, it is an opportunity for him to be face-to-face with the public who would assess his works on the spot.  “Literature thrives when the author becomes widely known, when he is closer to the people.  For our undergraduates, this will be a golden opportunity to meet an officer who has so imparted on them via his works; via his insightful novels.”

    In his own speech, the Chief launcher of the books, Dr. Andrew Warri lauded the author for his sense of charity.  “He helped me to go to school to read medicine,” he said.  “Therefore, this is a man who uses his wealth to touch lives and he is worthy of emulation.”

    The event which was witnessed by many dignitaries saw people in high spirits.  Orubebe who attended with his lovely wife said that his love for writing is irrepressible.  Writing has already become a part of him as he promises to release eight more books in the next few months.