I sometimes wonder why we have to spoil a good thing. What’s wrong in helping to sustain a process or a system that has served and is still serving us well? The buzz word all over the world at the moment is sustainability. That means using less of today’s resources or rather using today’s resources in such a manner that there will still be plenty left for the generations coming after us.

As a writer, one sometimes does get the finger itch to write but still one should always exercise caution in the things we spew forth from our keyboards. We should always bear in mind that words are powerful; they could damage careers, hurt relationships and friendships and even leave permanent scars on people’s minds. The Bible also tells us that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21).

I think that the moment we move away from discussing our social, economic and political issues and get into attacking personalities, that we will no longer be any different from those we have so conveniently blamed for our problems in Nigeria.  

Lately, I just keep thinking that things are no longer as they used to be on the website – www.nigeriavillagesquare.com (NVS). Could it be that the operators of the website are now so busy with their professional lives, and thus have very little time to actually edit or evaluate the quality of articles being posted on the site?

Time was when NVS was high on debates on topical issues of interest to Nigerians living at home and in the diaspora. I could still remember the corruption stories that broke on the website, the daily debates on Obasanjo’s infamous third term misadventure etc. But it appears the focus is now shifting to the discussion of individuals on the website.

My worry is that if the owners of NVS do not check this emerging trend, it may end up scaring long term visitors and contributors away, some of whom have through personal interactions expressed their shock at what is now being allowed to be published on Nigeria’s flagship internet discussion forum.

Now that the furor generated by Sabella Abidde’s scathing attack on Reuben Abati on the website has died down, one would have thought that both NVS owners and writers on the site have learnt their lessons – to keep attacks on individuals to the barest minimum but no.

Pray, what is the motive behind Chidi Anyaeche’s article - Leery Writers like Okey Ndibe? What is the article meant to achieve? Did the article aim to ‘unmask’ Okey Ndibe and did it achieve that purpose?

What has referencing Mr Ndibe’s town (Amawbia) in the article got to do with anything at all? As someone who recently participated in the celebration of the 2008 Egwu Imo Awka cultural festival, a festival aimed at reviving the dying Igbo culture in some of our communities, I feel embarrassed reading the following lines from a fellow Igbo man:

“Okey is from a little town in Anambra state called Amawbia (Ama Ndi Obia) meaning ‘settlement for visitors’. It is a settlement given to some roaming nomads years ago by the good people of Awka but rather than show gratitude to Awka people these Amawbia people decided to pay them back with ingratitude, with uncalled vengeance. So you can see that Okey’s writing vengeance is genetic just like his premature greyness”.

Unless, I can no longer read the English language properly, I see only wicked insults and callous attempts at distortion of history in the above lines and feel further embarrassed that a website that we all have come to love will allow such to be published on its index page.  

When Mr. Anyaeche was given the platform on the website to publish his vainly article (Who is Chidi Anyaeche?) last week, I thought to myself, what next? To also allow him the platform to attack a town and one of its illustrious citizens is indeed taking this free speech debate a bit too far.

I do not know Mr Ndibe personally, neither do I Mr. Anyaeche but I see ominous signs in the path Mr. Anyaeche is currently threading. He knows his motives but we should not all stand and applaud his naked dance in the village square. ‘Though the mad man may feel no shame, his people actually do’ goes another Igbo proverb.

Recently at the 2008 Aka Ikenga lectures held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, prominent Igbo citizens gathered once again in search of a roadmap for the progress of the Igbo nation. At the forum, all kinds of phrases were thrown around by the speakers with ‘the Igbo man at a cross roads’ being the one that was most highly favoured and used.

As we debated the Igbo man’s fate in today’s Nigeria on our way back to the office from the event, my boss, Tony Chiejina raised one pertinent question. He wanted to know when the Igbo man will finally cross the fabled cross road. Reading Mr. Anyaeche’s article once again and thinking back, I can see why many of the speakers at the Aka Ikenga lectures blamed the Igbo man for his many woes.

At the slightest provocation, justified or not, we seem to be so quick at condemning, tearing down, mauling over and pulling down our own people. Perfect these people may not be but at least they are clearly doing something. For that which they may not be able to do, we can lend them a hand in accomplishing. They call this cooperation or rather collaboration (Igwebuike).

You may also wonder where respect and dignity for the individual has gone to in our world today. Just what would the founding fathers of the University of Nigeria (UNN) who gave it the motto – To Restore the Dignity of Man think?  What was Mr. Anyaeche thinking when he referred to Mr. Ndibe’s grey hairs as premature greyness?

NVS should not encourage opportunities that detract from the more noble cause of building and sustaining a more united and progressive Nigeria, one where her citizens can freely express their views while also respecting the rights of others. I’m afraid that lately it has not been doing that.

http://thelongharmattanseason.blogspot.com/

Robot  Villager

# 1 I sometimes wonder why we have to spoil a good thing. What’s wrong in helping to sustain a p...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 02.06.2008 07:46

SOC Okenwa  Villager

# 2 Thank you, brother Uche, for your timely observation and intervention. Indeed the NVS Admin and editors should sit up and try to control certain invasion of undesirable elements into the Square. One notices lately newly registered JJCs and others spewing gabbages and betraying bias and hatred. Take Chidi Anyaeche for example. When he wrote his autobiography last week my friend based in Germany Frisky Larrimore reacted by saying that he had adjudged the article unworthy of publication because of self-glorifying elements it sought to convey but one of the editors went ahead to publish it. Chidi Anyaeche is intellectually unqualified to attack Okey Ndibe, they are worlds apart! I have come to see Chidi as an arrogant paid distraction who goes about singing his own praise in the absence of genuine admirers and audience. Chidi seeks fame and attention yet he does not possess the integrity and morality necessary for one to be seen as one. I pity his ignorance and intellectual limitations! Posted by SOC Okenwa| 02.06.2008 08:33

emenanjo  Villager

# 3 I agree with you in toto. People should be mature enough to address national issues raised in an article with issues not raised. I read virtually all the articles written on the NVS on almost daily basis and I learn a lot from these write-ups. There is anger and frustration in Nigeria, because the political class is failing. I see the NVS as one of the avenues through which these shameless politicians can be confronted. And I wont be surprised if corrupt politicians start sending their agents to destabilize the NVS with invidious write ups that border more on personal attacks. But patriotic and sincere Nigerians should not be discouraged by such tantrums and "asides". When I write, I take solace in the words of a philosopher who ones wrote that "SMALL MINDS discuss people and such mundane topics that border on gossips. AVERAGE MINDS discuss contemporary issues and events, while GREAT MINDS discuss ideas and such other challenges that improve lots of humanity". Thus in the NVS, when I read articles and comments, I know the SMALL, the AVERAGE and the GREAT minds. They don't bother me and I expect serious writers not to be discouraged by such write-ups or distractions. And, when you don't respond to their attacks, they go in front of a mirror to critically re-examined themselves. So please, Nworah, don't be bothered by these things, just concentrate on your vision of helping to create a just and equitable Nigeria. Posted by emenanjo| 02.06.2008 08:40

tonsoyo  Villager

# 4 Untimely intervention Uche. There is no doubt that this guy Chidi Anayeche has the IQ of an elementary school pupil, but as regards Okey, it is a case of what goes around comes around. Okey Ndibe has been subject of personal attacks because his own works have never been wanting of such undesirable attacks. He even wrote in one his articles that he cannot afford not to be personal when somebody took him up on his style of writing. I think the NVS adopted a policy of free speech and they must not be seen to be discriminative about it. If they are going to formulate a new policy at this time, then it must cut accross the board, no matter who is submitting the article. Like you wrote above ....."one should always excise caution in the things we spew forth from our keyboards" Yes, what goes around do come around. Posted by tonsoyo| 02.06.2008 09:11

19 guy  Villager

# 5 Freedom of speech as a concept is unworkable, people may not like to hear this but it is the truth. Where do you draw the line? Seriously. I understand the need to give people an unrestrictive platform and resist that urge to censor articles -lest you lose credibility like Nigeriaworld did- but the policy is more trouble than it is worth I'm afraid. With freedom (of any kind) comes responsibility but most of us are uncomfortable with the latter- a recipe for disaster. A word is enough for the wise. Best wishes. Posted by 19 guy| 02.06.2008 09:30

Ebe2  Villager

# 6 Your reading of Chidi's article is spot on. Readers have weighed in with their comments on the article, which are, for the most part, not charitable to the author. In short, the piece has met with a very hostile reception. That is the the way it ought to be. If writers unfairly attack someone or decide to exhibit their vain self-absorption on the site, the answer is not to censor their writings as you are suggesting. The answer is to subject them and their writing to the kinds of discursive hostility that the Chidi Anyaeches of this forum have had to suffer. It is enough recompense for their discursive indiscretions. You mentioned Sabella's attack on Abati. That is a good example. Was that piece not universally panned for being too petty and malicious? Do you think that Sabella did not take away any correction from that episode? Even if he didn't, do you think that the reception the piece got was not hurtful to his writing reputation? Look, writers know that if they misuse their muse, they'll pay with their reputation. That's a serious and adequate disincentive for personal attack articles. As long as the writers are adults, they need not be reminded of this hazzard or censored to protect people who might be offended by their piece. That's an unintellectual, counterproductive solution. Of course, some people do not have a writing reputation to protect or do not care what happens to the one they have. But I guarantee you that if their attack articles continue to elicit villagers' discursive anger, as Chidi's pieces continue to do here, they'll sooner or later get frustrated. Ask the fellow called Ozodi Osuji. So, Iam sorry, Uche, that I must respectfully disagree with your subtle call for censorship. The village has to be seen to be consistently committed to free expression. Posted by Ebe2| 02.06.2008 09:39

AJ_96  Villager

# 7 =SOC Okenwa;4295049201> Take Chidi Anyaeche for example. When he wrote his autobiography last week my friend based in Germany Frisky Larrimore reacted by saying that he had adjudged the article unworthy of publication because of self-glorifying elements it sought to convey but one of the editors went ahead to publish it. Chidi Anyaeche is intellectually unqualified to attack Okey Ndibe, they are worlds apart! I have come to see Chidi as an arrogant paid distraction who goes about singing his own praise in the absence of genuine admirers and audience. @SOC Okenwa Ur pronouncement that Anyaeche is unqualified to engage ON is not right. No where is “intellectual qualification” a pre-requisite to engaging one another in debates/public discourse. We all have seen Mr. Anyaeche article for what it is. And villagers have responded accordingly. We may not agree with what Mr. Anyaeche has written, but NVS has given him a forum to express himself. This right should not be taken away by editorial censoring. The motto of NVS is a market place of ideas. The editors should have asked Mr. Anyaeche to challenge Mr. Okey Ndibe in The Crucible. As I type this, I have a feeling that ON, a proud defender of his writings, would definitely reply Mr. Anyaeche. I look forward to his reply. Posted by AJ_96| 02.06.2008 09:52

denker  Villager

# 8 The village has to be seen to be consistently committed to free expression. exactly, my sentiments...! Posted by denker| 02.06.2008 10:14

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 9 Generally, I usually edit articles that have personal attacks of a private individual before publishing. I acknowledge that such writers may not care very much about the response they get on NVS, as long as the damage is inflicted. And I think it's wrong to use such a high profile means of airing your opinion to attack someone personally. But editing is a difficult job - it's hard scanning very large articles to look for these, and the reality is that given the amount of time available to publishers, we're never going to do a perfect job. I've had a look at the article by Mr. Anyaeche, and the impression is that it is more critical about the subject of Okey's articles rather than Okey himself, so I don't see a problem with that. However, the reference to his place of birth I find unnecessarily gratuitous and have edited out. However, I won't edit an article because someone does not find it 'intellectually stimulating'. Who is to decide what 'intellectually stimulating' is? If anyone has any clear objective measure that the publishing team can use to decide this, then I would appreciate it if they published same here. Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 02.06.2008 10:22

truthsayer33  Villager

# 10 Welcome back Uche. Here you are the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.The consummate self publicist chastising a mere amateur in Chidi. Uche we know you too well so don't try to fool us with your call for decorum in the village. Posted by truthsayer33| 02.06.2008 10:32

---

The conversation continues in our forum. Click here to read all comments

---