DR T.M. Aluko was attacked by stroke, August 27, 1987 after attending the annual general meeting of Heinemann Educational Books in Ibadan, taking with it, his right writing hand. This almost put paid to the writing and engineering career of this foremost Nigerian satirist-novelist of the colonial-colonised relations and transitions.

But his loving wife, Mrs. Bisi Aluko encouraged him to try his left hand, an encouragement that got him on a difficult but fresh start. This nudge of encouragement by a helpful wife has since given birth to other books including the latest, Our Born Again President (2009) billed for launch at his Ladipo Oluwole, Apapa, courtyard, November 9, where his defeat of stroke with a stroke of his pen and penmanship will be publicly presented.

Recalling the initial struggle, Aluko says “whenever  I remember my condition, I usually get depressed. You may probably know that I used to write with my right hand…As you can see, I now write with my left hand. Unfortunately too, Ido not know how to dictate my works; I have been forced to use my hand to write.”

New works

T.M has since moved on triumphantly with new works to show for it at 91. The event promises to have in attendance young and other elderly members of the literary art like his co-trustee of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Mrs Mabel Segun; the association’s first vice president to former president, Chinua Achebe, Ambassador Segun Olusola; past presidents of the ANA, Prof. Femi Osofisan, Odia Ofeimun, Prof. Olu Obafemi, Dr. Wale Okediran, and the present president Dr. Jerry Agada.

Also confirmed coming are the author of Eze Goes to School, Chief Onuorah Nzekwu; Otunba Eddie Aderinokun, journalist-writer, Dr,Tolu Ajayi, the doctor turned author and past chairman of the ANA Lagos chapter and other writers and artists will be gracing the occasion with many other important dignitaries across professions and businesses under the chairmanship of Justice Kayode Esho.

Dr Reuben Abati, chairman of the Editorial Board of the Guardian will be reviewing Our Born Again President which will also have some literary elders paying tributes and reading portions of the book that came 50 years after the first: One Man, One Wife, in 1959; marking Aluko’s 50years of published writing. Date is Monday November 9 at the Alukos’s Ladipo Oluwole, Apapa home.