By Felicia Imohimi
Dr Bukar Usman, former Permanent Secretary within the Presidency, has urged Nigerian writers to make use of literature as a device for nation-building, peace and nationwide safety.
Usman, former President of the Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS) and President of the Dr Bukar Usman Foundation, gave the recommendation in his handle on the forty fifth Annual International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the conference had the theme: “Literature, National Security and the Place of Nigeria in the World.”
Usman, who mentioned nationwide safety remained pricey to him, having been his preoccupation throughout his lengthy years in public service, described efficient nationwide safety because the bedrock of nationwide growth.
According to him, literature could be very highly effective and should be deployed with accountability.
“The power of a pen can destroy anything. Today, you do not need sophisticated tanks and artillery to destroy a country.
“Propaganda and mass disinformation can destroy a country.
The saying that the pen is mightier than the sword remains true. Writers must use their influence with circumspection.
“We sing the national anthem about our motherland. You cannot address your father and mother in a disrespectful manner. But you can beg and submit to your mother and father with respect,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that whereas residents may not be glad with some developments within the nation , criticism should be laced with respect for the nation.
Usman mentioned nationwide safety goes past safety of life and property to incorporate provision of welfare and safety of presidency from subversion.
Usman mentioned present inner safety challenges confronting the nation included communal conflicts, armed theft, banditry, kidnapping, herders-farmers conflicts, electoral violence and border disputes.
According to him, commentators have blamed them on defective safety structure, insufficient coaching and lack of recent gear, including that the recognized gaps wanted to be addressed.
Usman, who lauded the present transfer to decentralise policing nonetheless, beneficial that the initiative ought to prolong to the native authorities degree.
Usman faulted some international research rating international locations on violence, poverty, growth index, maternal mortality and out-of-school youngsters.
He mentioned such research didn’t current an edifying image of Nigeria, although they’re typically laced with abuse of statistics.
“There is urgency in addressing those developmental gaps and writers have a role in bringing them to the attention of authorities,” he mentioned.
On Nigeria’s literature and the Nigerian predicament, he mentioned six broad areas attracted the eye of Nigerian writers since independence in 1960.
He mentioned they as battle of colonial and indigenous cultures, corruption, army dictatorship, civil battle, ethno-religious violence, and human rights and gender points.
Usman mentioned Nigerian writers had accomplished the nation proud however warned towards writing bitterly in a fashion that would injury the nation’s picture.
“As writers, we can help the country to solve some of these challenges by highlighting them constructively.
“While one may have cause for reservations and disappointments about some happenings, it is abominable to castigate or disown one’s parent.
“However bitter one might feel, it must be expressed in a restrained and constructive manner, the way a child will address a parent or an elder,” he mentioned.
He emphasised that freedom of expression as assured underneath the Constitution just isn’t absolute, including that writers should not breach legal guidelines towards treason, subversion and libel.
“There is a lesson in our living memory of a notable foreign citizen who misapplied his literary endowments to dismember his country.
“Current mode of warfare may not necessarily require sophisticated tanks and artillery as propaganda and disinformation through literature could be devastating enough to do the job,” he warned.
He expressed satisfaction that Nigeria has maintained its territorial integrity since independence despite challenges. (NAN)
FUA/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne
