Readers’ notes and voices

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Readers’ notes and voices

Written by Tony Afejuku Monday, 10 January 2011

Last week, I promised to share with readers, including prospective ones of this column, some thoughts of some readers, whose phone calls and text messages helped to sustain its appearance week in, week out, so to say, since I began the column last year, with the gracious and kind understanding of this newspaper’s management. Of course, I announced, last Monday, the name of the reader who won my heart and whom thus I awarded the glittering prize and honour of Reader of the year, 2010. I gave the reasons/criteria for the reader, Mr Henry Agbebire, clinching the valuable award meant to encourage our readers to do consistently their duty to us, by reading us. And by reading us, and sharing thoughts and notes with us, we would be encouraged to be more excitingly and fearlessly committed in this weekly task.

Now, let me let you have some other readers’ juices and delicacies as they served them in 2010. But the concentration for now is on “Akure’s Royal Love,” which appeared on Monday, 23 August, 2010.

Number one: Oyeleke Akintoye on “Akure’s Royal Love:” “I’m not a native of Akure, although I live there. Your piece is thought-provoking. Those who did what they did would reap the consequences later. I highly commend your write-up, and I promise to read you henceforth.” August 23, 2010, via 08065126121, at 11.25:05 a.m.

Number two: Gbenga Martins on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “I love this piece, but I disagree with you. Adesina is not the first Oba to go on exile. I blame the Oba for his actions. Governor Mimiko is blameless, and he should send the Oba on exile farther than Owo-I am phoning from Badagry and I’m the publisher of Mirror Souvenir. August 23, 2010, 07043317824 at 1.20p.m. and 02.05p.m.

Number three: Mrs Funke Olatunbosun (from Adesida Royal Family of Akure). “Oba Adesina should face the music. His crime that gives him his present punishment is not the first of his. Please, no begging. If he were to be in England or USA, his own is finished, yes, finished. I liken his case to that of our equally bad and corrupt politicians, but who are allowed to go free through begging. No forgiveness, please, so, stop pleading for him. He is not fit to rule…. And I don’t care if his Olori has forgiven him. He is not fit to rule, I repeat. The oracle that selected him has now removed him. No begging… I’m a Christian, but I don’t care a hoot about forgiveness in this case.” August 23, 2010, 08027871111 at 03:07:02 p.m.

Number four: Engr Arie, from Benin City on “Akure’s Royal Love”. “I love your article, every bit of it. I love your analysis and expression. I enjoy reading it and I appreciate the time you put into it. I have looked at it from different angles and I can’t fault you. Quite thought-provoking. You are a great writer. May God be with you always. Fear not.” August 23, 2010, 08072029775 at 3:18:09 p.m.

Number five: Oladele on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “Yes, God forgave David because He was the one who anointed him. His ways are not ours and we are not in the old Israel when King David wielded absolute power.”August 23, 2010, 08028723481 at 4:21:07p.m.

Number six: Dr Demola Odetokun, from Ilorin, on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “If you had royal blood in your veins and you were aspiring to be on the throne of your fathers one day, you would not have prayed that you do what Prince Adesina did to the Deji of Akure’s stool.” August 23, 2010, 08056579619 at 19:24:18p.m.

Number seven: Pastor Olusegun Hassan, from Ikorodu, Lagos, on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “I want to applaud your scintillating write-up today. In fact, I thought all persons sleep and face the same direction. What has happened in Akure is A RAPE AND STEALING OF MONARCHICAL DESTINY. And God will punish all the perpetrators. The Yoruba adage says, “if a king does not die, another one is not enthroned.” What happened to Oba Adesina is not ordinary, I smell a rat. You can see that our monarchy is now politics. It was only once in history of Oyo Kingdom when Alaafin Sango was enthroned, while his senior brother, Alaafin Ajaka was sent to exile, because he could not save his subjects from the people of Owu. But when he died, the then Oyo-mesi begged Alaafin Ajaka to return to the throne of his father.” August 23, 2010, 08077658910 at 10:21p.m.

Number eight: Olaoye Eniola on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “Thanks very much for this article. I wish you can send it to other media houses as well. I believe that the judge who sat on the case earlier would share your sentiments after reading the article. Please, keep up the good work, brilliant writer. The Oba deserves sympathy. What happened was not of his own making. August 24, 2010, 08053373425 at 08:02 a.m.

Number nine: Alhaji Tomori, Osun State Chairman of Association of Road Transport Workers on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “I highly commend you for this piece. You deserve our prayers. You are simply rightly honest. You are certainly my best writer. Please, continue to say the truth. You have our blessings.”

August 25, 2010, 08033618854 at 08:07a.m.
Number ten: Remi, Lagos on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “If ex-Oba Adesina had actually beaten his wife in public, that is unbecoming of a royal father, it is unprecedented. He deserved what he got, so Mr Tony Afejuku, forget arousing pity for him, let him be.” August 27, 2010; 08053068871 at 04:05:36 p.m.

Number eleven: Okosun Peter Okosun, from Ishan (Uromi), Edo State, on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “A great article. Pity that a governor who came on seat via due process could not obey due process. I wonder why. My heart bleeds for Oba Adesina. God will judge that judge and all of them. These “due process” governors are terrible. Look at the one in Edo State. He is not even better. Please, cover all regions of Nigeria in your column. God shall be with you always. I am spiritually with you, and you have my solidarity too, physically. Continue writing for Nigerian Tribune, the bold paper. August 24, 2010, 07033730890 at 10:09 a.m.

Number twelve: Isah, from Kaduna on “Akure’s Royal Love.” “Mr Tony, I read your articulated write-up on “Akure’s Royal Love” which contained loaded literary words and phrases. Kindly offer me practical ideas and hints on how to become a good non-fiction writer like you. Thanks for honouring my request in advance. October 7, 2010, 08022368418, 10:34: 50 a.m.

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