ANA At 40: Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi Discusses “Traditional Ways of Solving Security Problems” As Authors, Writers, Poets, Others Gather Yesterday in Ibadan

ANA At 40: Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi Discusses “Traditional Ways of Solving Security Problems” As Authors, Writers, Poets, Others Gather Yesterday in Ibadan.

Ahead of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA’s celebration of its 40 years of existence across Ten Nigerian Cities, members of ANA, Oyo State chapter gathered yesterday in Ibadan. The Guest Speaker at the event is Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadan Land and Veteran Journalist, Oloye “Rasheed” ‘Lekan Alabi who discussed “Traditional Ways of Solving Security Problems”.

Oloye Alabi thanked Oyo State Chapter of ANA for their kind gesture of extending invitation to him. He described authors as creative and visionary leaders of the society.

Oloye Alabi gave holistic approaches to the topic by analysing Nigeria’s yesterday, today and possible tomorrow.

Oloye Lekan Alabi, as a young Nigerian then who witnessed civil, Biafran war that broke out in the Eastern part of Nigeria, kicked against splinter groups in the country who are calling for war. Meanwhile, he advised all Yoruba leaders to swallow their egos and come to round table as brothers and sisters to form a formidable front to protect and advance the cause of Yoruba land and save Nigeria from bloodshed.

While responding to the question of why crises here and there across the country, Alabi quoted, “Red and black ants will never fight if they don’t shake jar”. He frowned at those fanning embers of discord and sued for peace.

The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) represents Nigerian creative writers at home and abroad. It was founded in 1981 with the novelist Chinua Achebe as its president.

The year 2021 marks 40 years since that evening in 1981 when a group of already established writers gathered in Nsukka, with the hills standing guard, to light a fire that has continued to blaze. Those writers, at the instance of the legendary Prof. Chinua Achebe, whom they will continue to salute for his lifetime of service, birthed the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

For the association, this is a year of history and hope. ANA members are proud to celebrate the legacy bequeathed to them by the founding fathers; a bequest they have succeeded in preserving over the years through storm and strife.

ANA proposed a festival in ten Nigerian cities under the broad theme “ANA At 40: The Resilience of Nigerian Literature.” The celebration will be taken to Nsukka, where ANA was birthed and to Ibadan, a major incubating ground for African literature. The other cities where the celebration will take place include Port Harcourt, Makurdi, Lafia, Bauchi, Kano, Lagos, Minna and Owerri, all chosen for their various shades of historical and literary significance.

The ANA Secretariat promised to release a plethora of programs for each of the cities that will run from April through August. “The celebrations will culminate in the International Convention to which many writers across the globe will be invited. Because of its significance, this year’s Convention, in November, will take place at the Mamman Vatsa Writer’s Village, Mpape- Abuja. There will also be a production of a special 40th Anniversary ANA Review and an anniversary magazine that will tell the ANA story thus far”, the association revealed. 

In order to deliver a 40th anniversary celebration that is worthy of their founding fathers’ dream, the national and state executive councils have solicited the supports of all ANA members across chapters, members united by a common cause – passion for literature and the search for a better world.