There Is dignity In hunger , When You Have Honour

There Is dignity In hunger , When You Have HonourThe Mercenary WritersBy:Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.@douglasogbanlwa@gmsil.com .The real kings in life are not those with the crown , but those with the pen Aristotle called them the philosopher kings.Writers do not just write , they are philosophers , prophets and teachers .Their works are pedagogic and even didactic .That is why in any sane society, writers are well respected and adulated

In the ongoing campaigns for the Edo State 2024 Gubernatorial Elections , there has emerged a new trend of politicians not just decamping , but wait for it , writers are now “decamping”.They would even shamelessly issue statements , announcing their “decamping “, a novelty in the world view and a testimony that some of the intellectuals who criticise the politicians the most , are worse than them .Some of them are just waiting for the right opportunity to manifest , the way demons manifest during deliverance sessions by Pastors .

What makes you a successful writer is not the money in your account ,the houses you have built or the cars you drive , what makes you a successful writer is what you stand for .Chinua Achebe was an intellectual rebel with a cause .He was so principled that he rejected a national honour.Chamamanda Ngozi Adichie stands like a rock of Gibraltar on issues she stands for and we know them .Ogaga Ifowodo who lead the SAP Riots of 1989 was very firm against military dictatorship and when he joined politics he remained consistent till today .Dare Babarinsa was an iconic writer for Tell Magazine.He was such a good writer , but he was and he is still very consistent.Dele Momodu was a fantastic writer for the masses and he was consistent , since he switched to the ruling class , he has been consistent.

Good Writers are the last straw of the the intellectual strata .They are not ordinary beings.They are God’s messengers to planet earth .Any one can be a writer , but not any one can be a good writer .Writing is not a hobby , it is a calling .It is like being a priest .It is a divine mandate to communicate between God and humans .A writer is not expected to swing like the pendulum .As a writer you have a right to take a political position, but be consistent .That is what distinguishes you from a sloppy politician.If you are moved like a wisp ,then you will be shocked how you will live .

It was Alexander Pope that said : Politics is the madness of many for the benefit of a few.While you sell your gift like a Greek Gift , know that the internet never forgets and be wary of your Archille’s Heels .

In those days ,during the WAEC and JAMB examinations,we used to have mercenaries-those were better students or under graduates who come to the examination halls to impersonate other students , to get better grades for them .If as a writer , all you do is you move from one political party to another ,or from one Party Candidate to another , posing as a writer , you are not a writer , you are a mercenary.You are an impostor and impersonator.You should have some shame .Fame can bring shame if not tamed .

The worse of them are those who were Spokes Men to some politicians and today they are destroying the same politicians in their write ups.The difference between a human and an animal is concept of integrity.There are things you should stand for, because when you are gone that is all people will remember about you .No one will remember the money in your account, the cars you drive or the houses you have .At the end ,they are vain .It all ends six feet under .So when you are gone , will people mourn or bemoan .

Some animals even have more integrity than some humans today .A lion can never eat his cub , no matter how hungry it can be .But some of these impostors , posing as writers , some of them can do any thing for money .As I said earlier,there is dignity in hunger when you honour .It was Professor Wole Soyinka that said :

It is honour to honour and a greater honour to honour those who honour

Politics is a slippery slope .It is a delicate dias,either for honour or for shame .We have all chosen our fate by the path we follow .

While you write about people and seek to destroy the same people you were their spokes men few weeks ago, know that we are not fools , because fools do not read .If you are a reader and you do not place integrity on writers , you are encouraging intellectual brigandage .There is no difference between a Bandit and a writer who vacillates like the wind because of pecuniary benefits .While the bandits kidnaps humans ,these Bandit -writers attempt to kidnap our souls .

When you write now as opposed to what you wrote before , know that according to John Jesen that History is past politics and politics is present history.In the anatomy of the Plot of the book “The Mayor of Canterbridge”, by the Iconic English Writer -Thomas Hardy the thematic exploration was reversal of fortunes and the unpredictability of the fate of men.It is a motif that subsists today.Simply put , one word describes life ,to wit: Life is ephemeral.Cut yourselves some slack .Have a sense of shame , because if you do not have a sense of shame , you kill your fame

Nigeria is a country of ethereal contradictions.Some of those who criticise are worse than those they are criticising .They are hypocrites .When they are not in power they will turn to emergency activists .

Dr Kingsley Onwudiwe (K O.) Mbadiwe aptly captured the essence of this scenario captured above thus :

Man is living a false life style in a wrong society, a Society where morons are barons , a Society where thieves are chiefs , a Society , where monkey dey work baboon dey chop

In all these consistency is key

The worse of them are those who were Spokes Men to some politicians and today they are destroying the same politicians in their write ups.The difference between a human and an animal is concept of integrity.There are things you should stand for, because when you are gone that is all people will remember about you .No one will remember the money in your account, the cars you drive or the houses you have .At the end ,they are vain .It all ends six feet under .So when you are gone , will people mourn or bemoan .

Some animals even have more integrity than some humans today .A lion can never eat his cub , no matter how hungry it can be .But some of these impostors , posing as writers , some of them can do any thing for money .As I said earlier,there is dignity in hunger when you honour .It was Professor Wole Soyinka that said :

It is honour to honour and a greater honour to honour those who honour

Politics is a slippery slope .It is a delicate dias,either for honour or for shame .We have all chosen our fate by the path we follow .

While you write about people and seek to destroy the same people you were their spokes men few weeks ago, know that we are not fools , because fools do not read .If you are a reader and you do not place integrity on writers , you are encouraging intellectual brigandage .There is no difference between a Bandit and a writer who vacillates like the wind because of pecuniary benefits .While the bandits kidnaps humans ,these Bandit -writers attempt to kidnap our souls.

When you write now as opposed to what you wrote before , know that according to John Jesen that History is past politics and politics is present history.In the anatomy of the Plot of the book “The Mayor of Canterbridge”, by the Iconic English Writer -Thomas Hardy the thematic exploration was reversal of fortunes and the unpredictability of the fate of men.It is a motif that subsists today.Simply put , one word describes life ,to wit: Life is ephemeral.Cut yourselves some slack .Have a sense of shame , because if you do not have a sense of shame , you kill your fame

Nigeria is a country of ethereal contradictions.Some of those who criticise are worse than those they are criticising .They are hypocrites .When they are not in power they will turn to emergency activists .

Dr Kingsley Onwudiwe (K O.) Mbadiwe aptly captured the essence of this scenario captured above thus :

Man is living a false life style in a wrong society, a Society where morons are barons , a Society where thieves are chiefs , a Society , where monkey dey work baboon dey chop

In all these consistency is key.

Published by Caleb