Wunmi Semudara
A renowned poet, Sir Eriata Oribhabor, has challenged writers in Nigeria to promote the Nigeria pidgin through their literary works.
He noted that the Nigeria pidgin language should be given its appropriate place in the scheme of language matters in the country.
Eriata gave this challenge at the unveiling of the Author’s Book launch during his 60th birthday celebration in Abuja.
He charged all the citizens in the country to embrace pidgin language and prioritize speaking it at different forums.
“Today what some of us started years back is paying off, and many broadcasting stations are transmitting information in pidgin language. Even politicians are driving home their messages through the same medium.
“So, if anyone wants to say there is a language that Every Nigerian has come to embrace, it is pidgin language. It should be given an appropriate place in the scheme of things”, he said.
He encouraged the general public to embrace reading culture to stay informed on the happenings around the globe, as it is the backbone of society.
“The truth of the matter is with the internet, more people still read than we ever imagined, so you do not need to have physical copies to read, people still read. Some people need to be informed, others wait to be informed.
” We are lucky to be on that part where we read, and we will like to inform people, but we encourage people to read because reading is the backbone of every society.”
He further advised that everyone stay in tune with the language of politics, to understand governance in the country.
” We have been going through the roughest of times in this country, like I said recently, with poets we will always stand as creatives, we will speak for the good of he society, so I enjoin everyone to understand the language of politics.
” We want them to realise that politics is for the good of man , and as long as that politics does not represent the good of man, then it is not politics, it is prolific, “Eriata, added.
