Saro-Wiwa’s 23rd Anniversary: Activist Chronicles Footprints Of Dele Giwa, Saro-Wiwa, Others For Presentation Nov 10
Two volumes of the book, Footprints Of Nkpoo Sibara, Dele Giwa And Ken Saro-wiwa would be presented in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Saturday, 10 November, 2018 by 10.00am. The event is to mark the 23rd anniversary of the barbaric and brutal hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, the famous Nigeria’s writer, poet, minority rights campaigner and environmentalist. Saro-Wiwa and eight of his supporters were hanged at the Port Harcourt Prisons by the blood thirsty Sani Abacha’s junta in collusion with Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant on November 10, 1995.
According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Sunny Zorvah, the book presentation (not launching) would hold at the Conference Hall of the ALDGATE Congress Resort Limited, Plot 308, Abacha Road, G.R.A Phase 3, Port Harcourt.
Zorvah explained that the author, Patrick B. Naagbanton, a notable Port Harcourt – based independent travel journalist, columnist, writer, essayist, poet, biographer, book reviewer, researcher and activist, wrote the book, while, Dr. Alfred Charles, the Bayelsa State – born famous political scientist and teacher at the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, edited it.
Footprints Of Nkpoo Sibara, Dele Giwa And Ken Saro-wiwa – Volume 1 and 2, is a work of radical journalism, chronology and frontal attack on the rots of the Nigeria State, other African countries and beyond. It also proffers solutions to enhance democratization and development.
According to the author, “The book is not only about the three memorable characters (NkpooSibara, Dele Giwa and Ken Saro-Wiwa). It is about the problems of society created by our rulers and desperate politicians. The three of them influenced me somehow in my journalistic and literary career”.
“The courage, commitment and adventurism of the trio (Sibara, Giwa and Saro-Wiwa) though on separate occasions affected me greatly. Using them as title of the book is my way of recognizing and promoting their positive contributions to society. They were heroes no matter any contrary opinion to that. They remain some of my heroes”.
On his part, Dr. Alfred Charles, who edited the book, said;“As a public intellectual, the author (Patrick B. Naagbanton) did not also left out the international issues… Most of his predictions made in the articles have come to pass. Some of his prescriptions to cure the Nigerian State’s predicament have also been applied, and they have helped in no small measure to enhance progress in most local resource – rich communities.”
“We sturdily recommend the book, to the reading public in Nigeria and in other parts of the world without any reservation. There is something great for everyone who is interested and ready to scratch the surface a little deeper in this collection,” he said.
The event (book presentation) would be open to all members of the public from far and near. Participants will not be allowed to make donations or pledges as it is often done at book launch. It is a book presentation and the only money one may spend is to buy copies of the books at subsidized prices.
