Good leaders listen to constructive criticisms – Shadrach 

Nigerian author, human rights activist and journalist Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach is the founder of The Compodium, and the Kogi state coordinator of Fix Nigeria Group. In this interview with BENJAMIN SAMSON, he speaks on the state of the nation and related issues.

In the political space, being an active advocate of good governance, what advice do you have for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration?

Good administrations listen to constructive criticisms and that’s why I’m comfortable with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and urge him to always listen to well-meaning Nigerians who desire to contribute to his government’s success. Such people like human rights activists and investigative journalists are simply pronouncing citizens’ minds. If the government can work towards that, it is these same people that would recommend the government in the next elections. It is very easy for the return of an administration if it stands well and is recommended by freedom fighters and freedom communicators.

Citizens follow the words of those that practically and theoretically fight for them. This is what real activism and journalism represent. Therefore, I urge President Tinubu to continue to listen to our well-meaning and unbiased human rights activists and investigative journalists in order to freely and legitimately buy citizens’ conscience for re-election. I also urge him to make out time to study the doings of his ministers as they serve as governors to him. Mr. President should continue to give the required attention to the agriculture sector and provide more security in the North, which is the heart of farming in Nigeria, so that the region’s farmers will continue to engage in their chosen art.

President Tinubu should help the country to attain its rightful position in global ranking, in addition to providing quality services for the citizens. His administration should further focus on developing human and infrastructure advancement.

As a writer and activist, how have you used your writing to demonstrate activism, especially for youth inclusion in governance?

Yes, I can simply say, one of the real purposes of my writing is activism. The activism is generally for representation of the physically-challenged and the less-privileged citizens. I have written provocative themes in revolutionising our political experience. I have observed that our Constitution has not created standard laws for youth inclusion in politics. It simply prescribes that when someone attains the age of 18, he or she can vote and be voted for. But, practically, we do know that it’s for the chosen ones in the upper class who usually get to positions of authority.

It is against this backdrop that I do write extensively in newspapers and journals on how our youths can take their stand in politics. Some of my books are politically-inclined where I admonish youths to cultivate leadership skills, support one another in securing political mandates, organising conferences to showcase their competences to the established politicians.

What can you say about your late friend, Tunde Eso, and what his death means to the nation?

Honestly, his departure is a great loss to our dear country. His tireless advocacy for a better Nigeria through writings and youth mobilisation are greatly missed. His ambition for good governance and youth inclusion in governance that birthed his two-time governorship aspirations in Osun state and propounding of youthocracy is a testament to his true statesmanship. It worries me whenever I think of his 2027 presidential ambition. This is what he always discussed with me before his transition to our eternal abode.

Well, having measured his contributions to our dear Nigeria through his journalistic scores and his tireless mobilisation for youth inclusion in governance, I have come to accept that he has used up his earthly currency; and, indeed, he was a great man. This is because, even in the middle of his health challenges, he never gave up on writing and mobilising youths for their future. I dearly miss him. Hopefully, I will continue to promote his works as long as I am still in this phase of life. 

In your writing career, what have you achieved so far at 30?

So far, I can say, things are going well. Dozens of my titles have received global distribution and are selling well – some of the titles have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Hindi and French. This, I think, is an encouraging stand of a published writer. Again, my writing has cultivated two invitations for international conferences in the United States and Japan. This is what my published books and commentary articles on international journals have yielded over the years; I started at 17.

Of the published articles and journals, I have 10 of them at the moment. I am looking forward to publishing more books this year on scholarly articles in journals. In newspaper publications, I have published dozens of articles in national dailies, online and print. This is what I can say of my writing at the time.

What project do you intend to achieve this year?

I have a lot of projects. I have prepared to release three books this year. Definitely, one would be launched while the remaining two wouldn’t. The one to be launched takes full contents of how Nigeria can work on human and infrastructure development to boost our national value. The launch of the book has been discussed and accepted for promotion by one of Nigeria’s leading voices on good governance. There are other projects I intend to achieve this year. However, the mentioned one, to me, is the paramount as that is set to proffer solutions to our country’s problems and to standardise our approaches to achieving our dear Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.

What advice do you have for upcoming admirers of writing, activism, and journalism?

This growing age is filled with things that can yield money. Everyone is entitled to money either small or big. Everything we have on earth dies with us except knowledge, skills and wisdom which we have instilled in others. We should make humans our assets and the only lifetime legacy you can give humans is knowledge and skills – as they get wisdom from your actions and reactions.

In summary, I am trying to encourage upcoming writers, human rights activists and journalists to continue in good spirit and shape to innovate. To be great in these professions, you must not always look at the financial benefits. Try to do your best and you get what belongs to you; and with faith, fate, and wisdom, you get in multiples with whatever you desire.