The story is told of a young raconteur with a mind beyond his years, Chinualomogu Achebe, the award-winning writer whose first novel, Things Fall Apart, became a classic. Oftentimes, the tale of Ogidi, his ancestral home that gave birth to the legendary landmark of a novel, is not told. His achievements have not only put his homeland, located in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, on the world map; his death is beaming the spotlight and bringing the world to Ogidi.
On the interest his death has attracted, the National Vice President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mallam Denja Abdullahi, said: “No death of a Nigerian or an African in recent history has been so much mourned worldwide with effusive sincerity like that of Chinua Achebe.”
The Ogidi community, even before his death, has already become a destination of sort for many well-wishers. But never has the town, located on the busy old road leading to bustling business town of Onitsha, witnessed the flow of human traffic like after the death of its son.
As the late writer will be laid to Mother Earth tomorrow, several sites linked to diverse aspects of the writer in the town would be bursting with a large crowd of visitors. Unlike the neighbouring towns, Ogidi may not boast of possessing natural historical edifices with stories worth being named tourist centres such as caves or mountains. But many have argued that the late writer’s achievements set his homeland apart from others.
Hence, as it is the case across the globe where the hometown of great writers are made tourist sites, like that of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pushkin, they posit that not only does Ogidi possess the potential of becoming a major tourist attraction but that sites in the town, representing diverse fragments of the author’s existence from cradle to the grave, should be officially declared tourist centres by the authorities. If the right action is taken, they opined that it can become as important as other great men of history.
“It would be a great idea and if that can be achieved,” said the National President, Ikenga Ogidi Union, Amaechi Ekume, an architect. Although he did not say how the town intends to immortalise the author, he, however, argued that nothing done for Chinua by the government would be considered to be too great.
“It would mean doing some justice to his name. He is worthy of whatever credit that is given to him. This is a world-acclaimed personality who many presidents have fallen over themselves to attract his recognition and attention; but we have him here as a Nigerian and we seem not to value him. It is like the proverbial saying that ‘we don’t value what we have until we lose it.”
Chinua’s person ought to have attracted a lot of things from both federal and state governments to the town. But at least, now the government should think of immortalising by officially dedicating the sites linked to him in the town as tourist centres. It is unfortunate that our people do things for people when they are gone as if they do not deserve enjoying those things during their life time.”
In years to come, if the argument is anything to go by, those places may become a pilgrimage of sort for many, particularly for writers, scholars, humanists, among others. And Ogidi may not have to wait for long before that becomes a reality.
It would be hosting among other dignitaries writers across the globe that would be converging today to celebrate the author at the literary obsequies and wake-keep by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
And as he is laid to rest tomorrow, the town and its sites would entertain a large crowd of visitors from across the globe.
Achebe’s house
The home of the late writer which would be his final resting place is one of such places that has already be. A new structure has been added to the house and the grave of the writer. With the right attention, many argued that the place can become a world-class mausoleum of sort. One of such persons is an elder statesman in the community, Chief Obi Ezegbo. He urged that like many of such projects, which are left abandoned, the advocacy for the immortalisation of the author should be given speedy attention by the authorities.
He said: “If his house and other sites in the town are made state tourist centres, the world would applaud the country for taking a step in the right direction. I did English Literature. In my school days in the 50s, we did British History, which is Empire History. Nowadays, students of English Literature study African History which is what it should be. Chinua is the father, one who has brought about this change.
“And so, if he was the force behind the changed pattern of thought at that time and the mode of writing in Nigeria, he should be celebrated by not only the Ogidi people, writers’ associations and Nigerians, the government should developed those places that represent different aspect of the author’s life as tourist sites. Some people in the House of Assembly have suggested that that the National Library be named after him as a mark of honour. It was debated partially; I don’t know what has become of it. But it is never too late. Because when this moment passes, it is forgotten, like that of Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha that started after his burial.”
His father’s house
Not faraway from his house is the Okwuofu Lodge, his father’s house. The milk colour one-storey building built by his elder brother, Augustine Achebe, an engineer, is on the same road as the author’s by the Ugwunwasike Roundabout in Ikenga-Ogidi. It is another place that is also a potential site. Part of the ceremony would be held here, it was learnt.
Naming roads after Achebe
He urged that Ugwunwasike Road where the author’s father’s house is located be renamed after him, saying: “Then, during the administration of Dr. Chris Ngige or Mbadinuju this road was renamed after Chinua; but I don’t think it has taken effect. It still bears the same name and nothing special to show and that is the road that passes in front of his house.”
St Phillips Anglican Church
The serene compound housing the ancient-looking building of St Phillips Anglican Church welcomes every visitor to the vicinity. Achebe was a parishioner while his father served the church as a catechist before tranfering to another parish outside Ogidi. It is sure to remind visitors of the church in the novel, Things Fall Apart. A newly-constructed massive edifice now stands behind the old church building, possibly to house the large crowd that will throng the place tomorrow. The church’s Vicar, Venerable Obi Ubaka, will be presiding over the church service and interment at the church premises.
Central Primary School
The primary school, which Achebe attended as a boy while the town still stands. It is called Central Primary School and shares the same compound with St Phillips Anglican Church. The beautifullly painted yellow classroom block is sure to attract visitors. But nothing would prepare them for the sorry sight of the dilapidated ceiling boards and broken chairs, calling for government attention.
Professor Chinua Achebe Library
The visit to Ogidi would not be complete without visiting Professor Chinua Achebe Library in the council. If the visitor is willing to ignore deplorable state of the library, perhaps the idea of finding one solid edifice bearing the the name of the author can be praised.
