Literary icon, Chinua Achebe, dies at 82 •Jonathan, govs, Senate, Soyinka, J.P. Clark, others mourn

RENOWNED novelist, poet and literary critic, Professor Chinua Achebe, died Thursday night in a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. His failing health had fuelled rumours of his death a week ago, which the family denied.
A statement released on behalf of his family said Achebe was “one of the great literary voices of his time. He was also a beloved husband, father, uncle and grandfather, whose wisdom and courage are an insipiration to all who knew him. Professor Achebe’s family requests privacy at this time.”
Achebe is best known for his first novel and magnum opus, the Things Fall Apart (1958), reputed to be the most widely read book in modern African literature. The phenomenal literary work has sold in excess of eight million copies around the world, and has been translated into more than 50 languages, making Achebe the most translated African writer of all time.
His other novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Achebe wrote his novels in English and defended the use of English, a “language of colonisers”, in African literature.
In 1975, his lecture ‘An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness’ became the focus of controversy for its criticism of Joseph Conrad as “a bloody racist.”
His most recent book, There was a Country (a memoir on the Nigerian Civil war), also spawned a lot of controversy, as he was roundly criticised and faulted for his claim that the federal government used starvation as a weapon against the Igbo during the war.
Achebe received over 30 honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States, including Dartmouth College, Harvard, and Brown University.
As soon as the news of his death hit the social media on Friday, lovers of his works quickly stringed together the titles of some of his works into a kind of tribute, which reads: The Arrow of God has been fired at a Man of the People, Things Fall Apart as his earthly jouney is No Longer at Ease...
There was a Country, there was a great man, Achebe!
Reactions
Jonathan: President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness at the news of the passing away of Prof. Chinua Achebe, who he described as Nigeria’s globally acclaimed writer, scholar, tutor, cultural icon, nationalist and artist of the very first rank.
He said in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in Abuja on Friday that he was joining Achebe’s family, his friends, colleagues, past and present students, admirers and all who have learnt indelible lessons of human existence from his award winning works of literature in mourning the legendary author.
Senate: The Nigerian Senate mourned the loss of Professor Achebe, describing him as a great Nigerian icon.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said this in a statement issued on the passage of the late literary giant.
“It is a great loss to Nigeria and Africa. He is the greatest of African writers who played a key role in bringing African literature to the world.
 J. P. CLARK  and Wole SOYINKA: For us, the loss of Chinua Achebe is, above all else, intensely personal. We have lost a brother, a colleague, a trailblazer and a doughty fighter. Of the “pioneer quartet” of contemporary Nigerian literature, two voices have been silenced – one, of the poet  Christopher Okigbo, and now, the novelist Chinua Achebe.  It is perhaps difficult for outsiders of that intimate circle to appreciate this sense of depletion, but we take consolation in the young generation of writers to whom the baton has been passed, those who have already creatively ensured that there is no break in the continuum of the literary vocation.
We need to stress this at a critical time of Nigerian history, where the forces of darkness appear to overshadow the illumination of existence that literature represents. These are forces that arrogantly pride themselves implacable and brutal enemies of what Chinua and his pen represented, not merely for the African continent, but for humanity. Indeed, we cannot help wondering if the recent insensate massacre of Chinua’s people in Kano, only a few days ago, hastened the fatal undermining of that resilient will that had sustained him so many years after his crippling accident.
No matter the reality, after the initial shock, and a sense of abandonment, we confidently assert that Chinua lives.  His works provide their enduring testimony to the domination of the human spirit over the forces of repression, bigotry, and retrogression.
Mandela Foundation: The Nelson Mandela Foundation also offered its condolences to the Achebe family in a statement released on Friday.
“We would like to offer our condolences to the family of Professor Chinua Achebe, a great African writer and thinker,” said Sello Hatang, spokesperson, Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.
The former South African president and anti-apartheid fighter, who read Achebe’s work while in jail where he spent 27 years, referred to Professor Achebe as a writer “in whose company the prison walls fell down,” according to the statement.
Atiku: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also described the late Nigeria’s and Africa’s literary guru, Professor Chinua Achebe, as an icon of unmatched integrity and conviction.
Oshiomhole: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said with the death of Professor Achebe, Nigeria has lost a literary giant who left an indelible print in the sands of time.
Northern Govs: The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has paid tribute to the late literary icon and elder statesman, Professor Achebe, saying his death marked the end of a glorious era.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on Friday said Professor Achebe was a literary giant who lived a purposeful life of dedication to the cause of founding and development of African literature.
Amosun: Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, while mourning Achebe’s death described him as ‘a scholar of first magnitude and one of the pioneers of modern African literature.’
Dr Wale Okediran, a former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA):  Achebe was a great man. His death is a loss to the literary world. As the founder of Africa’s largest and most enduring writers’ body, I am greatly saddened by his death.
Nkanu Emori, former ANA legal adviser: With Achebe’s death, African literature is finally down. First, he was strapped to a wheel chair, and now, it is trapped in a casket. May his golden soul enjoy eternal rest in the lord.
Professor Olu Obafemi, a former ANA president: Professor is undoubtedly the most popular storyteller to have come out of Africa. Having sold over 12 million books, which have been translated into 60 languages, Achebe was the giant of African literary discourse.
B.M Dzukogi, ANA National Secretary: It is with deep sense of loss and emptiness that I received the shocking news of Achebe’s departure.
Having crafted so much about death and heroism, Pa Achebe has now been overwhelmed by the powerful force too; the terminus of every man.
 Mr Jare Ajayi, a literary enthusiast: Professor Chinua Achebe was one of Africa’s greatest writers. Although he was controversial atimes, he was no doubt one of the best writers to have lived. We are still putting our thoughts together about this shocking news, and cannot really express the sadness over his demise.
Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO): Professor Chinua Achebe’s death is a big blow to all Nigerians, but we thank God he was able to put the country on the global literary map. He will continue to be a reference point in world literature.
Lola Shoneyin, a writer: In the last five decades, just about every post-colonial African author, one way or another, has been engaged in a creative call-and-response with Chinua Achebe. You are never weaned off Achebe’s fiction because it renews itself. It gives you something new everytime. He was just that kind of storyteller; a master.
Prof. Tony Afejuku: Prof. Chinua Achebe should have died hereafter. Why now? We must eternally ask this simple question. Naturally, everything passes. But you must join me to ask this simple question: Why now, dear Chinua Achebe?
Odia Ofeimun, former ANA president: Achebe gave his best. His best remains forever phenomenal. What we all owe him makes him triumphant. I wish we argued more with him than we did. But he was always treated like the wise old one. He will be remembered for as long as stories are told.