The decision of the Kwara State University, Malete, to withdraw from hosting the Osundare International Poetry Festival has caused disquiet among literary enthusiasts.
The institution had, since about three months ago, stepped up preparations for the second edition of the festival in honour of poet laureate, Prof. Niyi Osundare.
But it suddenly withdrew last week due to an alleged anti-Osundare campaign launched by elements who recalled a poem in which the poet criticised the process through which Saraki emerged as the Senate president last year.
The satirical poem, titled “Blues for the New Senate King,” had caused a lot of sensation after it was published by several media outfits.
An online medium, cultureng.com, reports that KWASU withdrew because some people, including politicians and academics, put pressure on the university authorities until it annulled the hosting plan – about a week to the festival.
The online medium added that even a committee set up by the KWASU leadership could not resolve the issue.
The Festival Director, Prof. Tunde Laniyan, had also cited “an unresolved issue” as the reason behind the change in venue.
He said in a statement, “With great zeal and passion, we prepared for a great edition of the festival to open at the Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State on May 19, 2016. The organisers, however, very regretfully want to notify you that due to unforeseen challenges which cannot be fully resolved now, the festival as planned has been stood down from Malete. We shall be having an abridged version of the same festival on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at the Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.”
Among other commentators, some stakeholders on the Ibadan Film Forum, also an online platform, lamented the development.
While some called for action on it, others said official or concrete evidence concerning why the university opted out was not yet available.
But a member of the festival planning committee said on the platform that there was evidence and that the issue would be revisited at the end of the festival.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, however, KWASU’s Director of Public Relations, Dr. Isiaka Aliagan, said it was not true that some people conspired against the festival or Osundare.
Citing funding issues as the reason for halting the hosting plan, Aliagan said the university was preoccupied with the plans to host its next convocation.
Meanwhile, poetry performance is expected to take the centre stage at the event.
While the Head of the Department of English at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Niyi Okunoye, will be the keynote speaker, performers such as Alabi Ogundepo and Jeleel Ojuade are expected to perform at the event.
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