By FEMI ADESINA (Book Review)

How long do you think it would take to fill a 648 pages book with newspaper columns that run on a weekly basis?  Many years, surely.  And that is what you have in this book, aptly titled: ‘The Pains of a Country,’ written by Eddy Odivwri, Deputy Editor of Thisday Newspapers.  It is a collection of newspaper articles, some of them written as far back as 2008.

What are the things Odivwri loves to write about?  Everything.  Week after week, he picks varied topics from politics to education, security, foreign affairs, business and economy, media, and other general interest topics.  But in all these writings, there’s one thing you can be sure of: governance or the lack of it, will find a place.

In the Foreword, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi, describes the articles in the book as “strong reflection of an active participant in the Nigerian project; one who sees, understands, informs and interprets the facts and foibles of those in government and public service.

Therefore, the articles do not spare politicians, the military, civil servants, and even the ‘ordinary man’ in the streets, when they run short of ethical and social standards.”

What Dr Fayemi is saying is that the author is a journalist who places high premium on ethical and social standards, and any deviation from that moral highpoint, would attract the sharp point of his pen.

There are 78 Chapters in ‘The Pains of a Country,’ with each chapter dedicated to an article. As the author confessed, the recipients of the sharp edge of his pen are not only those he is not familiar with, even his friends are not spared.  This is one watchdog that knows no friend or foe, and he hopes the work “will serve as a good narrative on how far we have come, and an indication of where we could be.”

There are newspaper columnists who have mastered the art of ambivalence.  They dance round a topic, a jig here, a waltz there, and at the end of the piece, they leave the reader hanging.  They don’t take a position.  Not Odivwri.  Every single piece he writes, you are in no doubt as to what his position is.  He usually finds a point of anchor. Part 1 of the book is devoted to politics, governance and leadership.  Sure, these are topics a country cannot do without, if it is to realize her full potentials.

But then, we know that Nigeria is far from being the country of the dreams of our founding fathers, nor that of we the contemporary generation.  That accounts for why the book is called ‘The Pains of a Country.’   Yes, Nigeria is in pains, indeed paroxysms, and in the throes of despondency and disillusionment.  But is it all hopeless, “a thoroughfare of woes,” as Godfrey Chaucer would call it? The relief Odivwri brings is that he not only identifies problems, he also recommends antidotes, charts the path forward.

Don’t think the author is all about politics, economy and leadership.  He can wax very philosophical too.  Take for example Chapter 4, which bears the title: ‘Just Six Feet… That is all you Finally Need.”   There, he reflects on life and the ephemeralness of it, and wonders why people go into primitive accumulation, carrying on as if they would live forever.  He then submits:

“In all, the question that racks my brain is how many houses does a man really need?  Who can sleep on two beds at the same time?  Even then, what amount of space does the bed take in a room?  And whoever gets buried even with the tyre of a car?  And when the final bell tolls, are we not simply allotted a carefully measured, three-by-six feet in just one corner?  Isn’t that all we really need as humans?  What’s all these vagrancy and demonic Epicureanism?  And as the Bible will ask: “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

Deep.  Profound.  Food for thought.

In Chapter 14, Senate President, David Mark, felt the sharp side of Odivwri’s pen.  The article is titled: ‘Mark the Lawmaker or Lawbreaker?’   What is the piece about? There was a court ruling over the tussle on who should be the validly elected Senator for Anambra North Senatorial District.  The Court of Appeal had declared that Alphonsus Igbeke was the victor.  But the Senate, under David Mark dithered, and wanted the Supreme Court to give an interpretation.  See how Odivwri descended on him, like a ton of bricks:

“Why the abuse of legal procedure by groping on to the Supreme Court, pretending to ask the apex court to interpret the ruling of the Appeal Court?  Did the Appeal Court give its ruling in Arabic?  Why the resort to black market tactics?  Why the prerogative of choosing which court order to obey and the one to disobey?  Is that what the constitution they swore to uphold says?

“Where is the claim to the rule of law, or did President Yar’Adua die with the practice of the rule of law?  Why the extra effort to shield Emordi?  Is it a PDP conspiracy to short-sell the capacity of other political parties?  Two sets of rules: one for the cabal and another for the ‘outsiders.’   Can somebody please tell Mark to mark his name on the right pages of history, by swearing-in Igbeke without further circumlocutory argument?”

I wonder the kind of eye Senator Mark must have used to look at Odivwri, when they met after this column in question. Even Odivwri’s own governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State is not spared. In chapter 4, you have ‘Your Excellency, this is not Excellent,’ in which the author excoriates the governor for buying colour pages in newspapers to advertise private email exchanges between him and Delta people, all in the name of “open government.” Odivwri says money spent on such advertisements could build some boreholes in much needed areas.

I have not been asked to write another book, just to review this one, so I shouldn’t carry on and on.  But let me look at Chapter 67, which has the title: ‘Gaddafi’s Inglorious End.’   What is the lesson the author wants the reader to go away with? After reviewing the iron fist rule of Muamar Gaddafi over Libya for more than four decades, he submits:

“Dictators and oppressors will hardly learn.  With the jubilation on the streets of Tripoli and other parts of Libya… Gaddafi’s death represents a refreshing interlude that should prologue the reconstruction and reconciliation of Libya and its people.” This book, published by Posterity Media, is painstakingly edited.  You don’t see those annoying errors that often creep into newspaper articles, as the author rushes to beat deadline.  It therefore means that scrupulous re-editing may have been done before this book emerged.  Kudos to the author and to the publishers!

In this compendium, readers, particularly those who have followed Odivwri for many years, have a one-stop-shop, in which they can read his writings to their heart’s content.  It is a worthy effort. It is said that books live forever.  And so do authors.  We would therefore not be guilty of mendacity if we say that our friend and brother, Eddy Odivwri, through this book, will never die. He will live forever.  He has left his footprints on the sands of time.

Thank you for listening.

•  Femi Adesina is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited/President, Nigerian Guild of Editors.