IN the literary circles, he hardly needs any introduction. For several years, his column in Newswatch magazine was a delightful must read for who would want to drink from his fountain of knowledge and enjoy his beautiful use of language. That notwithstanding, Niyi Osundare, a professor of English language, is also what journalists call ‘an editor’s delight.’ When you encounter Osundare, 67, for an interview you are not only sure of getting a good copy, you are also sure of getting more educated on any subject under discussion.

When the Realnews team of Maureen Chigbo, editor and Olu Ojewale, general editor, spoke with the erudite teacher on Wednesday, December 17, in a telephone interview for almost two hours, there was no dull moment. In fact, it was as if the interaction should go on for another two hours. There were so many catchy phrases that usually mark him out as a down-to-earth and humorous person. The professor was in his usual elements. He spoke on the state nation from the current Boko Haram insurgence to the coming election in 2015, as well as his recent recognition as winner of this year’s Nigerian National Merit Award which was presented to him by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday, December 4.

While a lot of persons across the world believe that corruption is the problem facing the country, the poet differs. He said repeatedly during the interview: “The biggest problem of this country is impunity.” He, therefore, warned that the impunity should not be taken to 2015 elections to avoid backlash. Osundare appealed to politicians to be fair and allow transparency in the conduct of the elections. He said elections must not only be seen to be free and fair, politicians must also be ready to accept defeats if beaten. “Let them blackmail people of Nigeria with sincerity,” he said.

The university don similarly appealed to all government agencies handling the polls to be upright. “Let our police, police well. Let there be no rigging,” former University of Ibadan head of English department said. For the 2015 elections to succeed, the university don called on President Jonathan to be decisive and also allow transparency in the conduct of the elections. “President Jonathan should know that the bulk stops at his desk,” he said.

On the issue of insecurity, Osundare said the Nigerian intelligence gathering had become too inefficient. Besides, he noted that some soldiers were ready to sell their arms to Boko Haram insurgents rather than using the arms to fight the opposition. “Our army is not as coherent as it should be,” he said. The social critic expressed disappointment that the military which a lot of people used to look up to for discipline and patriotism, had allowed corruption to erode its values. He lamented that it had become impossible to insulate the military from corruption which had crept in, thereby making the military to lose its sense of patriotism. “Morality flows from the top. If there is weakness up there, either in the military or among the civilian there it goes down,” he said. According to him, that is why the country is going through a very difficult time. Osundare said: “Nigeria is a badly run country” by politicians whom, he said were stealing the nation blind.

The university don also spoke about the decay in the Nigerian education system, which he said started to collapse during the General Ibrahim Babangida era. “Our value system collapsed with the military… We the people have to fight our way out,” he said. Despite its problems, he said Nigeria must not only survive as a nation, it must also thrive.

Osundare was born in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in 1947. He was educated at the University of Ibadan, the University of Leeds, England, and York University, Canada, where he got his PhD in 1979. He became a professor in 1989 and was head of English department at the University of Ibadan between 1993 and 1997. He became professor of English at the University of New Orleans, United States in 1997. In 2005, Osundare and his wife were almost killed by Hurricane Katrina. They were stuck in their attic for 26 hours and were saved by a neighbour, who at the time was driving by in his boat, who heard their shouts for help. They stayed in many rescue shelters until they moved to Ringe, New Hampshire, where Osundare got a teaching job as a professor at Franklin Pierce College.

He holds several awards for his poetry, as well as the Fonlon/Nichols award for “excellence in literary creativity combined with significant contributions to Human Rights in Africa.” Osundare has several published works to his credit.

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