An Evening with the President

An Evening with the President
After an earlier morning session with President Goodluck Jonathan hosting children from different primary and secondary schools with Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka also present, it was the turn of the young adults to have their feel of the President Goodluck’s Bring Back the Book Campaign.
The afternoon session which was slated to begin at 2.00pm, already had most of its participants lurking around the lobby of Eko Hotel and Suites before noon. The promising youths who were mostly invited by Nigeria’s foremost youth network; Rise, crowded up around the registration spot to receive writing pads and souvenirs prior to the start of the program proper. For a while everywhere seems chaotic as they energetically struggled to be the first to be attended to. But to maintain a level of stability, the organizers stylishly redirected the eager youths to have their lunch before finally getting registered. A whole lot of them complained bitterly about the coordination of an event of such magnitude blaming the organizers for not planning properly for their arrival. They finally filed in to take their seats in the hall amidst tight frisking by security operatives. Their aggravations were soon totally forgotten when the memorable evening’s programme started in earnest.
At about 4.00pm, the Expo hall was already filled up with youths of different works of live mostly within the age range of 17-40. Strategically positioned in front of each seat were goodie bags containing Nigerian flags and books of different authors ranging from motivational books, novels and even history books. This laudable gesture by the President was aimed at stirring up and also effectively bringing back the lost reading culture amongst the youths in the country.
The Bring Back the Book Campaign witnessed the convergence of literary giant of African literature as well poets, publishers and writers in the likes of J.P. Clark, Mabel Segun, Otunba Lawal Solarin, Helon Habila, Sefi Atta, Lola Shoneyin, Jerry Agada, Odia Ofeimun, Reuben Abati, Fatima Akilu, Dapo Adeniyi and others. Also present were Ben Murray Bruce, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Dimeji Bankole, to mention a few
The event which was aired live on national television finally began proper after President Goodluck who was casually dressed in a deep blue t-shirt, black pants and his traditional hat, was ushered into the hall amidst standing ovation from the guests. He finally took his seat on the stage alongside Joe Trippi, Reuben Abati, Odia Ofeimun and Jerry Agada. June Slaton sang the national anthem.
Speakers with a touch of class
After settling down, it was the turn of President Goodluck to make a welcome speech and also speak on the reason why he chose to embark on such project as well as launch the book entitled My Friends and I. He bares his mind to the audience about the publication.
“The publication is about friends, young men and women who have been advising him through his facebook. I have invited you together to begin a serious discussion in order to bring back the book. I decided to publish because I want to promote a reading culture and accountable governance.”
He noted that the direct feedback from Nigerians over the last four months on facebook has been an invaluable one in formulating government policy.
“The campaign on reading culture supported by Professor Wole Soyinka and other well meaning citizens is a battle to restore our educational standard to its glorious past and to lift it further to the heights where it would lead to resurgence of our march towards economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and social advancement.”
The president further stated that the decision to embark on the campaign came after several consultations and a consensus that we require a nationwide campaign to bring back the book reading culture so as to catch them young. He pointed to the need to move towards creating a knowledge economy, which is starting with this campaign.
“My facebook affords amazing platform for interaction with the people, and influence public policy. There are 350,000 fans in my face book. I am grateful to those who made it possible.” He concluded.
After the keynote address by President Goodluck, Odia Ofeimun, one of the guest speakers at the event, in his speech, appreciated the President for such a laudable cause by endeavoring to bring back such initiative and also spoke on how the bad situation of the country has affected the reading culture of the citizens.
“This is the first time a national leader at the apex of decision making would be identifying with the campaign for the development of a reading culture without minding the cynicism of those who believe the situation is too far gone to be remedied.”
He further added. “We have an educational system which gives poor education to poor people in order to keep them poor and unmobilisable”. Finally he called for the provision of the US Library of Congress-styled libraries, to be spearheaded by the National Assembly as well as every local government buying at least 1000 books a year, to revive the reading culture.
Reuben Abati, who was the book’s reviewer in his speech noted that, “This is a new pattern of relationship between the president and his constituents. He is interested working with the people. By this book, he has influenced the citizens. African presidents think they know it all. Such invincibility is not here. He answers questions posed by the citizens for good life, roads, electricity, water, aviation, etc. A classic illustration of egalitarianism, a people parliament.”
While Joe Trippi, in his remarks stated that, “It’s a well produced book, easy to read, colorfully packaged. The conversations taking place went well beyond the usual top-down, consultation driven marketing you see on most political or corporate facebook pages. That ordinary Nigerians were having a real debate about the issues, coming up with new ideas.”
“There are 2 million Nigerians on facebook out of 400 million worldwide. Nigeria is the first example of a networking site being used in governance. President Goodluck Jonathan already has more facebook fans than German Chancellor Angela Mierkel, British PM David Cameron and South African president, Jacob Zuma combined.” He concluded.
One of the highpoints of the evening was when the young, vibrant and daring C.E.O of one of Nigeria’s formidable youth networks; Rise Networks, Toyosi Akerele stepped on stage to give her speech. The energetic lady who spoke with commanding masculine tone amazingly aroused everyone with a short but powerfully delivered speech amidst pin drop silence. One of her quotes were, “I am tired of seeing 70 and 80 year olds deliberating on a future they are not going to be part of.”
Other speakers of the evening include T.Y Bello, Ken Saro Wiwa (Jr).
Performances of the evening
Though the event may have been tagged as a book launch campaign, it was also supported with side attractions as renowned artistes entertained the guests at the event. Performances of the evening where by D’Banj, Mo Cheddah, P-square, Zaaki Adzay and 2face Idibia.
Glamorously dressed D’Banj, who is one of the official artistes on President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team, was the first to step on stage automatically pumping up the adrenaline system of the tireless youths in the hall as they mostly stood on their feet to groove to the Koko Master’s tunes. Next was torch-bearing Zaaki Adzay who came on stage with his gorgeously looking dancers. He had a relatively good performance and what even made his performance memorable was when he sang one of President Goodluck’s official campaign jingles which he composed. Fast rising songstress, Mo’Cheddah also had a scintillating solo performance that ended in great applause. Afterwards, 2face Idibia came on stage and practically lit up the hall with a breath-taking act while virtually everyone present took to their feet dancing and simultaneously waving their flags. The singing duo, P-square stepped on stage to thrill the restless audience more with songs from their archives as well as superlative dance steps. All the while the artistes were quietly and calmly observed by the President but when D’Banj finally came up stage once again to wrap up the evening’s performances, the President had a smile on his face as the Koko Master himself systematically warmed his way to the President Goodluck’s heart with his pulsating campaign jingle. For once I observed the President who had been well composed for the evening gradually nodding his head to the rhythm as he struggled to remain calm rather than jump to his feet. Don’t say I told you o.
.