Two questions and two answers got me thinking deeply about books and people who write books in a week that the 19th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) 2017 celebrated books with a big buzz.
On the eve of the book festival, Leke Baiyewu’s interview with Senator Dino Melaye appeared in Sunday Punch, November 5. The embattled federal lawmaker who represents Kogi West Senatorial District answered two questions on his book, which was launched in Abuja on May 15.
A picture of the book presentation: “The event which took place at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja had in attendance, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, Speaker House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bello Mohammed, his Labour and Productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim.” A report said: “over N27 million was realised…the representative of Aliko Dangote launched the book with the sum of N10 million.”
Melaye’s book, titled Antidotes for Corruption: The Nigerian Story, has an interesting story. Some days after, a report said the book was ”yet to grace the shelves of any bookstore, 11 days after its introduction to the public on May 15. At the launch, the author had announced that the book, whose cover price is N50, 000, would be available in Abuja bookstores that same week.”
Other events overtook the book launch, particularly Melaye’s struggle to save his seat in the Senate in the face of a determined move by his constituents to recall him. Then the book came up in an interview.
Bayeiwu asked: “You recently authored and published a book on corruption. Why did you venture into writing?” Melaye answered: ”You cannot cure a disease if you don’t diagnose it. You cannot fight corruption without educating people on corruption. Because of my passion to fight corruption, I decided to go into research and put together my experience as an anti-corruption crusader in form of a book that I called ‘Antidotes for Corruption’ so that Nigerians can understand the level of corruption. I mentioned names and characters in that book. You cannot ‘restitute’, ameliorate, palliate or correct without exposition.”
Next question: “How acceptable is the book in terms of sale?” Answer: “As I speak to you, I have sold over 100,000 copies. I travelled recently to Germany and I took 500 copies along with me. I have been called that the copies have been exhausted. I went to Russia with 100 copies. As I speak to you, they’ve all been sold. I sent 1,000 copies to the United Kingdom; they’ve been completely sold. I sent 2,500 copies to five states in (the United States of) America and they are still demanding more. I want to believe that it has been properly received. Within the country here, I have also made huge sales. I am laughing all the way to the bank.”
There may well be something to laugh about, and it may well be Melaye’s fantastic account of his book’s success. Also, the writing process that produced this book is something to wonder about. This is how a report presented the writing process: “The Secretary Planning Committee of the book launch, Mr. Babatunde Faniyan in his welcome speech said when Dino first made it clear to him that he wanted to write a book of up to 800 pages he shrugged off the idea thinking it was a mere wishful thought. He said: “In fact I was right there with him when he started from scratch. Basically he put his thoughts into words and spoke into a tape recorder which was subsequently transcribed, typed out and edited.” According to him, sometimes Dino would go quiet for months. He said: “At a time, we would not communicate for a while and other matters of life would take precedence. Then suddenly we would be back to the business of this book.”
It is said that the book “is divided into 14 chapters with 600 pages.” The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was quoted as saying: “We have been looking for that book in bookstores in Abuja; it has not been made available because we can’t afford it. It is N50, 000 — just to buy cut and paste of newspaper articles.”
During stimulating LABAF sessions at Freedom Park, Lagos, I wondered why the organisers did not feature Melaye and his book. There is no doubt that he would have attracted greater public attention to the book festival.
LABAF 2017, November 6 – 12, was dedicated to Niyi Osundare, the internationally recognised multiple award-winning poet and social critic. According to the organisers, “It is conceived and designed as a campaign for Literacy and Human Capital Development through such interactive events as reading sessions, conversations (around books and ideas in the context of national and global polity), exhibitions of books (and other publications), art and craft, Children/Students/ Youths creative workshops and mentoring; live music, drama, dance and poetry performances.” The focus this year was “Eruptions: Global Fractures and our common Humanity.”
Was Melaye aware of LABAF? Why was his book not there? A book about a cure for corruption, which has been described as a killer disease that could kill Nigeria, should be made available and affordable.
The information provided by the author that he had sold over 100,000 copies, including a high number abroad, should encourage local writers who need evidence that writing can bring big money. As a publicity stunt, Melaye could travel across the country with his book, and hold mentoring sessions on how to write a book that sells well.
Melaye is a lucky writer who is blessed with friends in high positions and high-profile connections. He got people who probably won’t read his book to buy it at a high price, which is what happened at the book launch. As for the copies he claims to have sold in other countries, the figures are thought-provoking. Given the claimed success of this book, it should not be surprising if Melaye is thinking of writing another one, possibly about his experiences in the ongoing drama to recall him. Something Melaye should think about: He needs to take advantage of book events, and should consider participating in the next LABAF, hopefully with a new book.
