….as Ekiti ANA April reading unites scholars
By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
An informed response to the fervent call from some quarters for a return to military rule was given on Saturday April 18, 2026 by a renowned literary scholar and poet, Prof. Gbemisola ‘Remi Adeoti aka GRA, of the English Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-lfe, Osun State. Prof. Adeoti said “though Nigeria’s current democracy may seem to be wobbling and fumbling, it is far better than military rule”.
He made this declaration during the April 2026 Monthly Reading of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Ekiti State Chapter. The event had in attendance, writers from the Ivory tower, political arena and other friends.
Prof. Adeoti was the Guest Author for the month. He read excerpts from some of his works including his “The Bamboo Flute Story”, a short story and poems including “Oshodi”, “The Street College” “Nature’s Wind”, “Ambush” and “Ëndlogue”, among others.
“Oshodi”, according to the author, was inspired by an unpleasant encounter he had in Oshodi, a popular Lagos city hub, notorious for harbouring all kinds of weird characters: petty thieves, fake uniformed men, area boys and others. The poem thus reflects the absurd and tragic experience of ordinary Lagosians as they daily encounter Oshodi, especially before it was reconstructed by Raji Fashola and Ambode regimes as Governors of Lagos State.
“The Bamboo Flute Story” was first written in 1995 after the late Environmental Rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders were brutally executed by the military junta of late Gen. Sani Abacha. The author said the story had predicted the death of Abacha whom he metaphorised as Herbert Chair.
Adeoti made his audience to become emotional with his reading of “Ambush”, another beautiful product of his creative efforts, which was on the reading list of Literature in English for WAEC, NECO and JAMB syllabi from 2016 to 2020. The poem was inspired by the incessant plane crash in Nigeria between 2002 and 2006. One of the plane disasters claimed the lives of students of Loyola College, Port Harcourt. That crash ended the lives of some very bright Nigerian college students. Therefore, Adeoti criticises the systemic failure in Nigeria leading to such preventable tragic incidents.
Responding, Senator Ojudu who identifies with the critical and protest posture of the writer in his works, disclosed that he was also a victim of the impunity of the military men who unleashed terror on Nigerians when he was in active journalism during the era of Babangida and Abacha.
Another participant, Dr. Daramola, asked the author what motivated him to go to the the academia having started as a journalist.
Adeoti’s responded that he had nursed the ambition to be in the academia having been inspired by one of his lecturers in OAU, Dr. Kemi Atanda llori.
Dr. Sola Balogun, a former Chairman of Ekiti ANA, urged the Association to encourage students to participate more in its activities because of the benefits from such an enlightening forum like Book reading hold for them as aspiring writers. He also urged the author to have a forum to inspire young ones with his works, harping on the fact that the students need more of such exposure.
In the same vein, Dr. Justin Awuawuer, a Senior Academic from the Department of Dramatic Arts, OAU Ile Ife, applauded the Guest Author on the impactful nature of his creative works, Dr. Femi Adeosun aka parastatal of the English Department, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, joined in appreciating Adeoti’s works, asking if he was influenced by Shakespeare’s classic, Julius Caesar. Dr. Adeosun also observed that not only members of the Nigerian elite are being ambushed by the nation’s systemic failure; everyone seems to be affected. Hence, he made the blunt declaration that: “We are all ambushed!”.
The Head of Department of Theatre and Media Arts, FUOYE, Associate Professor Mike Aderemi Adeoye also asked the Guest Author if he had responded to the harassment that he was subjected to by men who wore military uniform at the old Oshodi in 1993. The author responded that he indeed had reacted to it in his poem entitled: Öshodi”.
In her reaction to the reading, Professor Lara Owoeye, former Head of the English Department, Ekiti State University (EKSU), acknowledged that the Guest Author is renowned for his poetry, but she finds it interesting when he read from his short story.
At this juncture, Dr.Wole Balogun, sought Professor Adeoti’s view on the call by some people for a return to military rule. The writer calmly responded: “I must say that the protest nature of my writings is a reflection of my involvement in student unionism activities while I was an undergraduate. It was also inspired my career in the struggle for justice, especially through our brand of journalism at The News in the days of military rule in Nigeria.
Senator Ojudu was one of our bosses at The News. Others include Dapo Olorunyomi, Kunle Ajibade, Seye Kehinde, Idowu Obasa, and the big Boss, Bayo Onanuga”.
On the call for a return to military rule, Prof. Adeoti said: “The fact that people could now freely comment critically on governance on the social media and nothing happens to them is what democracy has given us for example. This wasn’t possible during the khaki men’s reign. Therefore, let us continue to wobble and learn with democratic rule. Military rule in Nigeria of today is retrogressive and highly unacceptable.”
Concluding his responses, Prof. Adeoti said he was indeed inspired by celebrated writers including Harold Bloom, T. S. Elliot, J. P. Clark, Niyi Osundare and Samuel Beckett among others. Advising on how to become an influential author, he said: “Writers should be great listeners and observers. Evey writer would have a model, what is important is for them to arrive at a distinct style that is theirs and be consistent with it. keep reading and keep writing.”
In his closing remarks, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, the Hon. Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Ekiti State, who presided over the programme pledged to continue his support for the association. Prof. Bakare, a long standing friend of the Guest Author, disclosed that he was the first to feature as the Guest Reader in the monthly reading of Ekiti ANA. he also stressed the need to get students more involved in the activities of the association. “The Gen zees are fast becoming a non thinking generation and unfortunately, people who can’t think can’t write, so we need to bring young people to this so that they can learn. We must do more in bringing young ones here,” he advised.
The occasion was also used to appreciate the achievements of Prof. Bifatife Adeseye who delivered the 21st Inaugural lecture of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, on April 17, 2026. The day also marked his 70th birthday anniversary and his retirement from service of the University.
Glowing tributes were rendered in his honour as led by Senator Ojudu who organised the reception. Senator Ojudu also hinted that the celebration of Prof. Adeseye also included a celebration of other distinguished Ekiti ANA members who included, Associate Professor Mike Aderemi Adeoye as HOD, Department of Theatre and Media Arts (FUOYE), Associate Professor Tosin Tume, who doubles as Director of Gender Studies, FUOYE, Prof. Lilian Bakare, new Dean, Faculty of Arts (FUOYE) and Dr.
Oluwatoyin Afuye who recently bagged her doctorate degree from FUOYE. Dr. Afuye is a senior Lecturer with the department of Theatre and Media Arts, EKSU.
Other dignitaries at the event were Mr. Nsikan Basset and his wife, Barr. Mrs. Bassey, Prof. Olaide Taofiq Nasir of FUOYE, students of FUOYE and members of ANA as well as political associates of Senator
