This is so untrue and not backed by a single fact. The people packaging, selling, managing the idiots ruining Nigeria are not illiterate. The people who washed Buhari of all his sins and declared him to be better than an early morning blowjob were professionals: doctors, journalists, writers, lawyers, academics and even scientists.
Religious bigotry is curated and spread by very educated people, some with PhDs. Dangerous ethnic bigotry is spread by journalists, lawyers and academics. When Bayo Onanuga wrote nasty xenophobic things about Igbos during the last elections, declaring that Igbos have no business in Lagos politics was he illiterate? Is someone like FFK, illiterate? Sheikh Gumi (whatever you think of him) is a medical doctor with a PhD.
The opposite is what is true. A small elite minority forces the rest of the country into the hellhole that it is in and uses poverty, religion and ethnicity as bait to draw the illiterate masses into their schemes. Uneducated people are not the problem. They are simply used by the often very educated people who consciously create and benefit from the problem. It is not illiterate people emptying state coffers and sending their children abroad in luxury. It is not illiterate people making sure there is no infrastructure. It is not illiterate people designing mechanisms to rig elections, from INEC to the streets. It is not illiterate people who make corrupt judges uphold stolen elections in court.
It is so funny when the average city dweller in Lagos or Abuja arrogantly thinks they are more politically educated than the guy selling oranges or kolanuts in a small town in Kano or Bauchi. Many of these so called illiterates participate more fully in the democratic process than most people in cities. They know where their ward is, they know who their local councillor is, they know their local chiefs and district heads, a thing many people, even those arguing here do not know. That guy with a transistor radio in Sokoto knows more about local politics than you will ever know.
In terms of political consciousness or even ethics, there is not a single advantage the literate Nigerian has over the illiterate Nigerian. Literate and illiterate Nigerians alike participate in the anyhowness that defines Nigerian society.
Lonely Crowds won the Edmund White Award for debut fiction last night in New York. It is also a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Award!congratulations to the finalists for both prizes and TGIF!
Yay! I have a good news to share. My collection of short stories has been published on the Kokonut Head Media anthology @kokonutheadM.
Buy the book & read my stories. Kindly retweet so this reaches more readers. I added the purchase link in the second post. Thank you.
On the night of February 14, 2026, one of the most celebrated voices in African speculative fiction nearly lost his life — and came within inches of permanent paralysis.
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (@Penprince_) — the first African-born Black author ever to win a Nebula Award, and a winner of the World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, and two Nommo Awards — was struck by an out-of-control delivery vehicle while walking near Reddington Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. The rider slammed into him at full speed, launching him into the air and onto the pavement, then continued forward and struck the woman walking beside him before finally stopping.
When doctors finally examined him — after a nine-hour ordeal without medical attention — they delivered alarming news: Ekpeki had sustained a spinal fracture. The orthopaedic surgeon told him plainly that had the injury been even slightly worse, he would have faced permanent paralysis, lifelong deformity, or chronic debilitating pain.
Ekpeki’s publishers are currently raising are raising $3,000 to help cover his immediate medical expenses and support him through his recovery period. You, too, can help Ekpeki get better by donating.
https://t.co/SnhNsonyvG
@edna_elisha It’s not a fight. My post said “most Nigerian unis”, not all. I researched it for my dissertation. Even the English dept at KASU, your Alma mater, offers Research Methodology (where these topics are covered.) But I get your point.
@carlterver Good one. Commentarial writing isn’t inherently bad. there is no great literature without it. All the literary greats had lots of that. It’s only bad writing when it turns preachy or heavy-handed, or sacrifices character/narrative flow for agenda.
Submitted the last major edit of my book, An Injury To All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class.
I'm looking forward to An Injury To All being published in October 2026!
*LONDON* 😊
Tickets come with a copy of the book! Please join me for an intimate night of reading and conversation/signing, courtesy of @Lolwe_
Seating is limited.
Please tell a friend. Please sign up here: https://t.co/k4jtHzJ2oJ