How Chimamanda ‘Slapped’ Nigerian Leaders in their Faces; Declares No Heroes Among Them

Author of leading novels Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is now the subject of talks now after she told Nigerian leaders to their faces they are no heroes.
Her statement made in front hundreds of legal practitioners has punched the faces of leaders who are accused of being the architects of the current Nigerian many woes.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association tagged “Bold Transition,” Chimamanda said Nigerian young citizens do not have heroes to look up to any more.
Her conclusion is juxtaposed against historical Nigerian figures of old in politics, businesses and culture who were epitome of inspirations for the younger ones.
Nigerians are “starved of heroes,” she declared.
Lamenting what Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka called the state of anomie, Chimamanda also regretted the pervasive insecurity in the country.
“Nigeria is in disarray. Things are hard and getting harder by the day. We can’t be safe when there is no role of law,” she said.
Speaking against injustices in the land, she said, “Federal and state security dragging journalists to prison is tyranny. A journalist ill-treating his domestic staff is tyranny. The rape of young boys and girls is also tyranny. It is tyranny when state governments do not pay pensioners until they slump and die as broken people. The physical harassment of lawyers and some judges is tyranny. The use of the law by some people to oppress the poor people is tyranny.”
Saying Nigerians must speak against injustice, he said, “As long as we refuse to untangle the knot of injustice, peace cannot thrive. If we don’t talk about it, we fail to hold leaders accountable and we turn what should be transparent systems into ugly opaque cults.
“My experience made me think there’s something dead in us, in our society; a death of self-awareness and ability for self-criticism.
There’s need for resurrection. We cannot avoid self-criticism but criticise the government. We cannot hide our own institutional failure while demanding transparency from the government.”
One area the author feels Nigerians can change things is via the justice administration.
And she sees application of justice as one vital tool to achieve this.
She said, “Nigerians are disillusioned because they know of the decline of professionalism in some sections of the legal profession. As the NBA continues to fight the abuse of power, it must also look inward not to be corrupted.
“One way is to simplify legal procedure. We deny justice when we delay justice. Technology should also be used. It is time for the full use of technology in the administration of justice.”
In less than 24 hours after her comment, she has turned the heat on political gladiators in her country who come under heavy criticisms of the citizens who conclude most of those at the helms of affairs have displayed irresponsibility.