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Why I want to become ANA next president — Abdullahi

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Interview

Denja Abdullahi is Vice President Association of Nigerian Authors,
ANA. He spoke with Adeola Ogunrinde on the challenges of publishing in
Nigeria and  why he wants to be the next ANA president

When did you start writing and when did you join  ANA?
I joined ANA in 1993 and I started writing when I was studying English
at the University of Jos around 1986

Why did you choose to write?
I chose to write to express myself , get the story across to the
people. I believe everyone has a story to tell about himself or
herself.

There are many challenges regarding publishing what can be done to reduce this?
Many people in Nigeria are doing vanity publishing.We are hopeful that
measures  will be introduced to guard against this problem , the cost
of paper, the cost of printing ,Nigerian publishing is growing.

Which of your works was a breakthrough for you?
My first published work which is more of a travelogue titled ‘A
Buffon’s Poetic Journey Around Northern Nigeria’. It was adopted for a
film which created a lot of appeal.

Some believe ANA hasn’t been supporting authors , how true is that?
That is not true because ANA has been in the forefront of supporting
authors over the years. The main reason ANA was created is  to support
authors , protect the interest of writers , project  writing in
Nigeria. ANA has done a lot for over 30 years now. Most of our authors
have been called  over the world. Toni Kan, Helon Habila and many
others were all nurtured by ANA before they went abroad wining prizes.
The problem that people have is that when they were nobody ANA took
them at infancy, now they are somebody they are now casting ANA down .
This association has supported writers with prizes and residences
abroad. ANA is promoting writers quietly without making noise about it

Why do you want to become ANA president?
I want to redirect this association to go back to its primary role
which is to protect the interest of writers. I also want to initiate
some good programmes that will bring more glory to the association .I
want to see how we can be financially sovereign to have funds of our
own to execute our activities without necessarily going around to look
for money from governors. I also want  just solidify and crown my
efforts. I have held all important positions in ANA , what I have not
held is ANA president.  When i become ANA president I will be able to
consolidate what I have been doing in ANA these past years .

Is it that you cannot impact on ANA without being its president?
Not that , as president of ANA you are the leader,you have the power
to chart the course which you can deliver. All other positions is
secondary, serving the president . I want to be elected so that I can
do what I can do as president so that when I leave I will fall back to
the position of elder statesman.By contributing , advising and making
sure the association interest viability is kept alive by my silent
support. I feel at this particular moment among all those contending
for ANA presidency , I have best qualification of experience. I also
have  long years of service of excellence and literary administrator
and I have been faithful to the association for quite sometime . If I
aspire to lead it now , I am justified to lead ANA . If somebody
better than me comes out , I will step down because it is all about
service. For now among those expressing theoretical interest for the
position I am the best person.

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There has been a lot of controversies over ANA’s  hosting right. Is
the association political on the issue of hosting right ?
ANA is not political over hosting right. Lots of money is needed every
year to host ANA. Our members who participate every year , the cost of
bringing them to the convention we slash it to 30 percent. The fee per
member is 55,000 and you find the member just paying 8,000. Where does
the balance come from , it comes from sponsors – the state hosting the
convention. We get the money from the governor.

What about Politics in choosing where it is hosted?
There is no politics there , it is only states that are capable of
hosting that we give it to . If a state wants to host, if the
government of that state is not going to support them with funds ,
they can’t host the convention, where will they get the money from?

If two states are bidding and both of them have the funds, how do you
choose which state to host the convention?
We determine by looking at their bidding documents, going there to
check the facility on  ground , by looking at their commitment,
analysing to know which has the best solid relationship with their
government because we know funds will come from there.

When is the next ANA convention coming up?
The convention is coming up 29th October to 1st November 2015 in Kaduna.

Why Kaduna this year?
Three states bided, the other two states withdrew for Kaduna. Kaduna
has been biding to host the convention for the past three years. We
feel this is the time to challenge them with what they have been
biding for. We hope nothing happens. We are encouraging people ,
telling them the place is secure , is safe . The news you hear here is
not all that is happening , those places are safe places. You only
need to be careful when you are moving around. Where we are having the
convention is a one stop venue.

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