By Uche Nworah

Professor Niyi Osundare, One of Nigeria’s literary icons is well and alive. The professor who is a resident of New Orleans and also a professor of English literature at the university of New Orleans, survived the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and in an apparent show of appreciation to his many friends and well wishers, especially Nigerians who had been speculating about his whereabouts, has written to thank them for their well wishes and also to assure them of his well being and that of his family.

In the letter dated Monday, 5th September 2005 which is reproduced below, Professor Osundare narrates his and his family’s ordeal:

This is my first real internet access since the disaster struck. I can't thank you enough for your concern and care. It's been all so overwhelming. My wife and I are alive and, after passing through five horrendous "evacuation centres", have been allocated to the Red Cross shelter in Birmingham, Alabama.

The nightmare of the past seven days is simply unimaginable. We very narrowly escaped drowning in our own house. Pursued by an 8-foot high toxic flood water (15 feet in the street outside our door), we were forced up a stuffy, airless attic, where we were holed up for 26 hours, with no food, no water, no prospect of any rescue. We were only saved by the fortuitous intervention of a neighbour who heard our shout for help when he came round with his rescue boat to pick up something from his own house. With life vests provided by him, we managed to swim out of our house, leaving everything we had behind. Right now, all our clothes, books, academic and professional credentials, travel documents, computers, manuscripts, etc. etc. are submerged in the dirty waters of the New Orleans flood. Hell has no other name...

We deeply appreciate your concern. Kindly pass on our gratitude to all on your listserv.

Yours in the Eye of the Storm

Niyi Osundare

It is still disheartening that till date, the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is yet to officially make a position statement to announce its plans and intentions towards Nigerian victims of Hurricane Katrina, just like other countries have done.

Citizenship of a country also extends to citizens that may dwell outside the territory of the country, in keeping with the sworn oaths of allegiance to defend and protect the citizens of Nigeria, the Nigerian government should please make good this promise and pledge. It is such neglect that make some Nigerians to easily denounce their citizenship and adopt the citizenship of any country that shows them care and attention.

As a result Nigeria has lost a lot of promising home grown sports men and women, as well as academics and other professionals to other countries. This is very shameful.
Professor Niyi Osundare is one of Nigeria’s literary greats, in the mould of Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka. His works include The Word is an Egg, Pages from the Book of the Sun: New & Selected Poems and Thread in the Loom: Essays on African Literature and Culture, and have been translated in Dutch, German, Korean and French; he has won many literary awards including the Noma Prize.

Uche Nworah is a freelance writer and lives in London.uchenworah@yahoo.com