Share

Famous Nigerian writer rejects honour

Lagos - The author of internationally acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart and other works examining the political failures and corruption of oil-rich Nigeria has again turned down a national honour over the failings of the nation.

Chinua Achebe rejected being honoured with the title of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, an honorary position awarded to others during a ceremony on Monday by President Goodluck Jonathan. Achebe's terse letter to Jonathan noted he rejected the award in 2004 and said problems he cited then "have not been addressed, let alone solved."

The rejection by the 80-year-old writer sparked an equally curt response from the presidency, which said Achebe's decision "clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria's current political situation."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE