By Steve Edem
Literature often preserves the memory of individuals whose lives and sacrifices continue to shape the conscience of a nation. Through poetry, writers immortalise heroes, question societal failures, and challenge future generations to confront uncomfortable truths. Dr Udeme Nana’s memorial poem, “Dele Giwa”, contained in his work Musings of Yesteryears, is one such literary intervention. More than a tribute to a fallen journalist, the poem is a profound reflection on Nigeria’s unresolved crises of justice, accountability, truth, and national morality.
Nearly four decades after the death of Dele Giwa, the questions raised by his assassination remain unanswered. The renowned journalist and co-founder of Newswatch magazine was killed on 19 October 1986 by a parcel bomb, an event that shocked Nigeria and the international community. Yet the identity of those responsible has remained a subject of controversy and speculation, making the incident one of Nigeria’s most enduring mysteries.
It is this lingering uncertainty that inspires Nana’s poetic meditation. The poem transforms personal remembrance into a broader commentary on the Nigerian condition.
Dr Udeme Nana is a Nigerian poet, journalist, essayist, literary and media scholar, and public intellectual from Akwa Ibom State. He is widely recognised for his socially committed writings, which address issues of corruption, injustice, leadership failure, moral decadence, national identity, and the struggles of ordinary Nigerians. Through poetry and critical essays, Nana consistently employs literature as a tool for social interrogation and national reflection.
His works often blend simplicity of language with depth of meaning, enabling him to communicate complex social realities in a manner accessible to a wide audience. As a poet deeply concerned about the fate of his nation, Nana frequently examines the relationship between power and truth, leadership and responsibility, as well as the consequences of societal hypocrisy. These concerns are vividly reflected in “Dele Giwa”, where he revisits one of Nigeria’s most controversial political assassinations to question the nation’s commitment to justice and accountability.
Dele Giwa as a symbol of national conscience
The poem opens with a solemn remembrance of the late journalist:
“Three years ago/Today/Marks your ghastly/Exit from this shore” (Lines 1–4).
These opening lines immediately establish a tone of grief and remembrance. The expression “ghastly exit” emphasises the horrifying circumstances surrounding Dele Giwa’s death. By recalling the event in such stark terms, the poet presents Giwa not merely as an individual who died, but as a symbol of truth brutally silenced.
The significance of Giwa is further suggested when the poet later asks:
“Were your assignments/Completed?” (Lines 12–13).
This rhetorical question elevates Giwa beyond the status of an ordinary journalist. He becomes a representative of all those who dedicate their lives to exposing injustice and defending truth. His death therefore signifies not only a personal loss but also a setback for the national quest for accountability and ethical leadership.
The theme of unresolved justice
A major concern of the poem is the persistence of unanswered questions surrounding Dele Giwa’s assassination. The poet expresses this frustration in the lines:
“We still grope/We still wander/and wonder.” (Lines 5–7).
The repetition of “We still” conveys continuity and persistence. Many years after the incident, Nigerians remain trapped in uncertainty. The verbs “grope”, “wander”, and “wonder” suggest confusion, helplessness, and a desperate search for answers.
The poet intensifies this concern when he asks, “who dunit?” (Line 27). Though brief, this question encapsulates the central mystery surrounding the assassination. The use of informal diction makes the question appear simple, yet it carries profound implications. It symbolises the nation’s inability to uncover the truth and secure justice.
The poet’s frustration is therefore not directed solely at the past but also at a continuing culture of impunity in which crimes involving powerful individuals often remain unresolved.
Socio-political implications: leadership and accountability
The poet broadens his reflection beyond the death of Dele Giwa to examine the state of the nation itself. This is evident in the striking declaration:
“Nigeria died decades/Ago in 1986 when you were/Bombed to death.” (Lines 8–9).
This statement is clearly hyperbolic, yet it serves an important purpose. The poet is not suggesting the physical death of the nation. Rather, he implies that something fundamental in Nigeria’s moral and political life suffered a devastating blow when justice failed to follow such a shocking crime.
The poet reinforces this criticism through another rhetorical question:
“Could finesse not be accommodated/In this place?” (Lines 13–16).
The word “finesse” may be interpreted as intelligence, brilliance, excellence, professionalism, courage, or the refined pursuit of truth. By asking whether such qualities cannot be accommodated in society, the poet questions a political culture that appears hostile to brilliance, integrity, and independent thought.
These lines transform the poem into a critique of governance, accountability, and the abuse of power.
Socio-economic dimensions: Corruption and national development
The poet’s description of a nation that continues to “grope”, “wander”, and “wonder” may also be interpreted in socio-economic terms. The imagery suggests a country searching for direction despite its enormous human and material resources.
The inability to resolve significant national questions often contributes to broader developmental challenges. The poet’s portrayal of uncertainty symbolises decades of unrealised potential, policy failures, and systemic weaknesses that continue to affect economic progress.
Consequently, the poem invites readers to recognise the relationship between truth, justice, and sustainable national development.
Socio-Religious Reflections: Morality, Hypocrisy, and the Search for Righteousness
One of the poem’s strongest condemnations appears in the lines:
“At our Hypocrisy/The Hypocrisy of the nation” (Lines 20–21).
The repetition of the word “hypocrisy” creates emphasis and reveals the poet’s profound disappointment with societal contradictions. The nation publicly celebrates justice, morality, and truth, yet often fails to uphold these values in practice.
This criticism becomes even more vivid in the lines:
“Because the putrid smell/Is too strong” (Lines 22–23).
The metaphor of a “putrid smell” suggests corruption, moral decay, dishonesty, and societal degeneration. The image evokes something offensive and unbearable, indicating that the nation’s ethical problems have become impossible to ignore.
The poet therefore challenges both religious and political institutions to move beyond fanciful, make-believe appearances and confront the realities of injustice and corruption.
The unfinished assignment
A particularly significant moment occurs when the poet asks:
“Were your assignments/Completed?” (Lines 12–13).
The question operates on several levels. Literally, it refers to Dele Giwa’s journalistic mission. Symbolically, it points to the unfinished national task of building a society founded on truth, accountability, and justice.
The poet appears to suggest that the assignment remains incomplete because the circumstances that produced Giwa’s death continue to exist. The burden of completing that task therefore falls upon subsequent generations.
Dr Udeme Nana’s “Dele Giwa” is far more than a memorial poem. It is a powerful interrogation of events in Nigeria’s history and their continuing implications. Through carefully chosen images, rhetorical questions, repetition, and symbolism, the poet transforms the memory of Dele Giwa into a mirror through which Nigerians may examine themselves and their society.
From the haunting remembrance of Giwa’s “ghastly/Exit from this shore” (Lines 3–4) to the lingering uncertainty expressed in “We still grope/We still wander and wonder” (Lines 5–7), the poem consistently reminds readers that truth delayed is justice denied.
Until the question “who dunit?” (Lines 26–27) is answered with truth, accountability, and justice, the concerns raised by the poet will remain relevant. The memory of Dele Giwa therefore continues to challenge Nigeria to complete the unfinished assignment of building a nation where integrity triumphs over fear and truth prevails over silence.
Stephen Edem is a teacher currently teaching English Studies and Literature-in-English at Redemption Academy, Uyo.
