Nigerian singer Brymo, has responded to the chieftaincy title recently awarded to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her native Anambra State.
On Friday, December 30, 2022, Adichie was given the title of Odeluwa (the writer of international renown) in her hometown of Aba, 22 months after she turned down a national award from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 45-year-old author who was supposed to be awarded the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) award declined it quietly and did not show up to accept it.
Adichie accepted the chieftaincy title, nevertheless, and she celebrated it in front of her family and friends.
In response to the news, Brymo commented on Twitter that Adichie’s decision to turn down the national award months earlier in favor of a village chieftaincy has damaged both Peter Obi’s presidential campaign and the Igbo presidency.
“Five years ago, I advocated for an Igbo president to heal the country and form a cohesion,” the singer 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.”
