Award-winning writer, journalist, historian, poet and columnist, Chief Assin Godstime, recently published a book, A Miracle in Two Paragraphs, where he details how the His Royal Majesty, Francis Fedude Tabai (JP), the Esuku I of Tuomo Kingdom of Delta State, abolished the killing of twins in the community. In this interview with Adewale Oshodi, Godstime speaks on the book. Excerpts:
YOU have come out with another play which traces how the practice of killing twins in Tuomo was stopped. How far did you go in getting the information?
Information is power. When an individual has adequate information about something, he or she is liberated. Growing up, I was taught in my primary and secondary schools of how Mary Slessor, who was a Scottish missionary, stopped the killing of twins in Calabar. I was very much abreast with her account until around 2020 or so when I was made to cover the crowning of the Pere of Tuomo in the riverine community of Bayelsa State. The monarch is a retired Supreme Court Justice. The ceremony was chaired by a former governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.
I painstakingly listened to the monarch as he narrated how his mother had twins on four consecutive occasions and how they were thrown into the high sea hours after their birth. He admitted that his mother naturally gave birth to nine children, but traditional practice consumed eight leaving him an only child. Being a writer and scholar of literature, I decided to address the situation which is the best way of preserving our tradition. Interestingly, I was happy that the monarch was able to abolish it as soon as he ascended the throne.
Many people actually know Mary Slessor as the person who stopped the killing of twins in Nigeria, what role did she play in the stoppage in Tuomo since you said the king of Tuomo abolished it?
History chooses to favour who it likes. Quite a lot happened elsewhere in Nigeria that history did not capture. Mary Slessor made significant impact in abolishing ungodly murder of twins in Calabar, but it didn’t change anything in Tuomo until the revered Supreme Court Justice retired took the bold step to abolish it. The noble monarch is also a victim of the practice notwithstanding, hence he acted smartly to save others who would have perhaps had a closer share of what his mother underwent. Remember, his mother had four sets of twins alongside him.
This book is like bringing back history in the minds of readers; how do you think this will benefit students?
History is a way of life. Sincerely speaking, just like English Language and Mathematics, History ought to have been made compulsory in our various primary and secondary schools as this would have enlightened our young ones about the ways of life – culture, custom, tradition and practices among our people in Nigeria and Africa by extension. “A Miracle in Two Paragraphs” is a perfect example of a people’s way of life that will not only educate its readers, but also showcase the kingdom of Tuomo to the international communities.
Most of your books have been endorsed by state governments for use in schools, including “A Miracle in Two Paragraphs”. How do you know what your target audience, in this case, students, need?
A writer, as I would always say, is also a student who is willing to learn. I believe in feedback in everything I do. Experience also helps though. I have come to understand the pattern and style of addressing children literature, and I can boldly say that I am good at it. “A Miracle in Two Paragraphs” is a new book, and has only been approved by the Lagos State government (ministry of education) for 2023-2026 academic session. It’s also the only State I have submitted it for review. It’s approved for JSS 3, that is to say, it would appear on the State JSS 3 examination sheet for the 2024-2025 academic session. In the meantime, my books have been approved in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Lagos states respectively. I am gradually extending my manpower to more northern states. My books are widely read at home and abroad, and I can confidently say that I am one of the authors whose literature texts sell like sachet water that humans cannot entirely do away with. My books have been recently approved in Ghana and Kenya. Being a former Senior Special Assistant on Education in Edo State, I know the importance of having one’s books in the curriculum.
Which of your other books are still very popular across the country?
Almost all my books are popular and are well received. My books are many, including: Oduduwa, Two Nights in One Day, Generation of Mad People, Brag a Little, An Innocent Soul, A Dance to the Golden Vision, Where God and gods Meet, Where there is a Will…, Holy Sinner, Japa, Before You Japa, A Bird in the Hand, Midnight Sun, The Crying Hospital Bed, Abuja Cabals, Urhobo Current Affairs, My Parents Must not Hear This, Beautiful Nonsense, Genesis to Revelation of the Use of English, The Master Key to English Language, Mature Adults, among others.
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