Erudite scholar and former presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof Iyorwuese Hagher, has called on political leaders at all levels to engage Nigerian writers towards building egalitarian and progressive nation.
The literary icon made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the July edition of the monthly “Reading and Writers Dialogue” on Saturday in Abuja.
The Reading and Writers Dialogue is a flagship programme of the Abuja chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) that brings together authors, literary enthusiasts, and then discuss the works of a selected Guest Author.
The July edition of the dialogue, with the theme, “The Writer As A Double-Edged Sword; Can Build and Can Destroy”, featured Prof Iyorwuese Hagher as the Guest Writer.
According to Hagher, also a former Nigeria High Commissioner to Canada and Mexico, literary works are timeless and veritable instruments for driving narratives and desired changes all over the world.
He therefore urged leaders to constructively engage Nigeria writers for national re-orientation, especially as the nation was grappling with challenges that threaten its development and unity.
“The writers are very powerful instruments of nation-building, and all over the world people understand that the writer is the conscience of the nation.
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“They are the repository of a collective wisdom, and have special skills and talents to raise consciousness, and thank God that today there is an explosion of writing, which are also available on social media.
“One of the writer’s responsibility is to say truth to power, if people in power will listen to the writers, they can never go wrong that is why they should be properly engaged.
“We need to have many more writers who are writing about Nigeria instead of investing their energy and writing about how great are their tribes and customs.
“We need to build a Nigeria that is proud of its diversity, we need to build a Nigeria where the elites are selfless and less greedy,” he said.
Arc. Chukwudi Eze, Chairman ANA Abuja, lauded Hagher for his contribution to nation building both as a public servant and a literary giant, especially in advocacy for better leadership.
He therefore urged Nigerian authors to use their writings to build and not to destroy, thus taking the written craft to its rightful position as a force for positive change and growth.
“I do not know if you have up to four Nigerians like Professor Hagher, not only as a scholar of excellence, which makes him attain the position of a professor, but a selfless public servant.
“He has a remarkable pedigree as a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a Federal Minister for Health and later for Power and Steel, a Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and later Canada.
“He is also a distinguished Professor of the written and spoken art, whose literary works are critically acclaimed across the globe.
“His scholarly works are rich and eclectic, spanning a divers field, which show an active mind, rigorously engaged with untangling the complex issues of our times to help us move forward,” he said.
According to EZE, ANA Abuja is positioned as a platform where literary discussions are used to positively shape socio-political and cultural developments and as a springboard for emerging authors .
“ANA Abuja strives to focus on the young ones for them to appreciate themselves in context with their nation. And for them to be able to express themselves through their writing skills,” he said.
Highpoint of the July Reading and Writers Dialogue”was a discussion panel which featured literary icons, including Prof Udenta Udenta, Salamatu Sule and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim.
The panel succinctly examined the character of the writer as a ‘double-edged sword’, through historical and empirical evidences.
Other activities for the day included spoken word ,songs, poetry and other presentations by students, and the presentation of awards