Amaechi honoured at Lagos book reading

Friends and associates of Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, held a book reading in commemoration of his 54th birthday, on May 27.

Jilting the conventional glitz and glam of birthday celebration for a reading session and poetry performance, Tonye Princewill, businessman and politician, George Tolofari, alongside other friends of the ex-minister showered encomiums on him.

Jahman Anikulapo, a literary icon, recounted to the audience that Amaechi was one of the few governors in the country whose love for literature is very admirable.

He told the audience how Amaechi supported the Rainbow Book Club which started advocacy programmes in 2005 to draw attention to the importance of reading to personal and national development. His unwavering stance to that cause fetched Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers the distinguished honour of the U.N.E.S.C.O World Book Capital City in 2014 while he was still in office.

But the biggest reveal came from Princewill who described the avid reader Amaechi embodies.

“Most people don’t know about the literary side of Amaechi, they only know about the controversial side of him,” he said.

“But he has a strong literary side to him. Amaechi can read three books at the same time. Usually when he finds a novel he really likes, he buys several copies for his friends. He is a fan of books.

“Part of the reason he is a fighter is because he is knowledgeable having read so many books about how things are and how they are supposed to be. That has somehow evoked a rebellious spirit in him so when you see him reacting certain ways, it is because of the import of the knowledge gathered in books.”

Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Man Died’ was read at the session.

The organisers said Soyinka chosen for two reasons: “First, like so many in the literary world, Soyinka is considered the father of literature and Amaechi is no exception. The other reason being that the novel which was written by the professor during his incarceration at the peak of the Nigerian Civil War is a product of his experience as a fighter of the people, a role which Amaechi played during his governorship days where he curtailed the reign of terror and brigandage in Rivers”.

The reading panel comprised individuals from different walks of life who have in one way or the other encountered the visionary politician. They include Newton Jibunoh, prolific environmental rights campaigner; Reginald Ofodile, author and poet; Joke Silva, veteran actress; and Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, publisher of men lifestyle magazine Modemen.

While Amaechi was absent, his friend and ally, Tolofari rained accolades on him, highly impressed by how the former governor has reached the echelons of power.

“Amaechi may have not been born great like a child with a silver spoon but he has worked very hard to be who he is today and that is why we are celebrating him,” he said.

“Before he assumed office as governor, shortly after we left the National Assembly, myself and a few friends wanted to throw him a surprise birthday party and we were begging people to join us. But they turned it down, because at the time Amaechi was embattled.

“Nobody wanted to identify with someone they see as a failure. Only his few friends that believed in him. Today, I’m delighted that it is a national event for this young man.”