Singer Olawale Olofooro, better known as Brymo, has responded to comments by Dr Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesman and ARISE TV anchor.
Abati had condemned Brymo after he criticised Chimamanda Adichie for rejecting President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Honor and then accepting a chieftaincy title in her birthplace of Abba, Anambra state.
Daily Trust reports that Chimamanda refused to grace or accept the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award ceremony on October 11, 2022.
Meanwhile, last Friday, she was conferred a chieftaincy title in recognition of her contributions to the welfare and development of her hometown, Abba.
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Commenting, the ‘Heya’ performer referred to the refusal of the national honour as “blackmail”.
The vocal musician in a Twitter space, added that it is an insult to Peter Obi, an Igbo candidate for president in the next 2023 election.
He said, “Chimamanda refusing national honours, yet accepting chieftaincy title in her village, is a jab to Peter Obi’s race. She’s an eastern mother. She’s that important. This conversation is not about elections.
“It’s about our collective healing. It would have been nice if Chimamanda took the award, then stated her reasons. [Like] ‘They gave me this award. I shouldn’t have taken it because Biafra is not healed, but I did for the youth.’
“She shouldn’t have rejected it just like that. It doesn’t affect the rest of us as it affects the Igbo presidency and Peter Obi. Seeking the office, yet rejecting things from it is blackmail. I will be happy if we can just forgive yourselves.”
Reacting, Abati during Arise TV’s The Morning Show, said, “I heard Brymo complaining that this is anti-Peter Obi and that Chimamanda accepting a traditional title and not taking the national honour of Nigeria is not good for the Igbo.
“He (Brymo) should go and sit down. This is a perfect case of your sister building a house, you are going there to steal blocks and bags of cement.”
“I don’t see the connection between Peter Obi’s ambition and Chiamanda accepting to be honoured by her own. When she was given the national honours of Nigeria, she rejected it, she didn’t even show up and that was an ideological choice.
“She will not be the first person to reject the national honour of Nigeria. Chinua Achebe, whom all of us consider a source of inspiration reject the national honours of Nigeria twice. Prof. Wole also in 2014 had course to reject centenary award from the Nigerian government…
“So linking the Odeluwa title to Peter Obi’s ambition is a very unimaginative way of commenting on public affairs. If Brymo does not know what to say, he should just congratulate her.”
Responding, Brymo, in a tweet said Chimamanda’s move was badly timed.”
“Dear Dr. Rueben Abati, I was sitting when I typed, and then went on spaces to talk about that, and it is “Br’ai’mO” case of another Time my precious name passes through and out your mouth… My opinion stands, Adichie’s move however ideological was badly Timed!!..,” he tweeted.
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