Popular Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has written on her Facebook official page a cheerful and appreciative message to Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, on his birthday.
Her post read:
“Happy birthday to Peter Obi, my dearest Big Bro:”
“I will never forget your kindness to my beloved parents. Thank you for the respect you showed them, for your many visits to Abba, where you gave to daddy and mummythe most precious gift: your time and you attention.”
“Thank you for walking this still-unbearable journey of grief with my siblings and me.”
“I remember how you regaled Daddy and mummy with your stories until we started joking about your obsession with the “GDP of malaMala” But your obsession spoke of hope: your hope for Nigeria, your belief in what Nigeria could be. A belief that has always been pratical, grounded in numbers and reality.”
“I remember when you came to support me as I was being honored by the United Nations Foundation in New York, and I teased you about the inexpensive hotel you were staying in, and you shrugged and said, ” it’s just a place to sleep, why do I need to be in an expensive place?”
“And then only days later, you once again exhibited you incredible generosity to the cause you believe in, and it reminded me of all the hospitals and schools and churches you have supported over the years, and often without fanfare. You have always been clear about what your priorities are, what matters to you, what you believe should matter, and that is deeply admirable.”
“I have always admired your humane pragmatism, how you are willing to talk to almost anyone if it will bring about a good outcome. And how you believe in certain ideals without being an ideologue. And how yo see people as people, know that humans values is not measured in material terms. And how you are able to laugh at yourself, and laugh when I tease you about your ‘one shoe and one shirt.’ and how you have always been consistent in the core of who you are.”
“Thank you for your compassion and your circumsepection. For your willingness to acknowledge flaws, yours and others’, know that is perfect. For your fuss-free kindness and humility that is never performative.”
“I am inspired by your intellectual curiosity, your eagerness to learn, your genuine love to education (which is why you sought out, and honored, Daddy all those years ago when you learned that he was Nigerian first professor of statistics.)”
“Sometimes is the simplest of language that captures the most complex of things, and so I will end with simplicity: you are good man. You are loved. You are appreciated.”
” May your eyes continue to light up when you talj about the lovely confident Margaret (Thank God she agreed for you!) and your lovely Children A and E.”
“May joy follow you and yours always.”
“Mummy called you her first son,’ my siblings and I call you our ‘big bro,’ and I cannot wait to call you my president.’ ”
“I cannot wait for February 25, 2023, when I, with personal pride in you and with hope for what Nigeria can become, will cast my vote for you and running mate, senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.”
“Chukwu dube gi. God keep you. With love, Chimamanda.
