President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former vice President of Nigeria, are grieved over the painful demise of Ikeogu Oke, Nigeria’s renowned poet and winner of the 2017 NLNG-sponsored Nigerian Prize for Literature.
Mr. Oke died at the National Hospital Abuja on Saturday, November 24.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, President Buhari extends heartfelt condolences to Oke’s family, the literary and creative community on the painful demise of the award-winning poet,” his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Monday.
“The President affirms that as an author, journalist and poet, Oke exuded vibrancy, intelligence and innovation in his works as a social commentator, constantly in search of plausible answers and solutions to contemporary issues bedevilling his society.”
President @MBuhari is deeply grieved to learn of the passing of one of Nigeria’s renowned poets and winner of the 2017 NLNG-sponsored Nigerian Prize for Literature, Ikeogu Oke (@Okesisi).
— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) November 26, 2018
”Through his poetry, the President believes that Oke enriched Nigeria’s literary genre and his legacy will live on in his works, which he was incredibly proud of and committed to, as he wrote in his epic Epitaph: ‘‘Here lies a man who loved virtue and art, And gave to both his fortunes and his heart…’’
“The President encourages all Nigerians, the literary community and lovers of art to honour Ikeogu Oke’s memory by imbibing the didactic message of his works.
“He prays God to console all who mourn the departed poet and grant the soul of the departed eternal rest,” Mr Adesina stated.
Atiku on his part, also mourned the passing away of Oke, recalling a poem he dedicated to him in 2012.
See his post below:
I received with sadness, news of the passing away of Ikeogu Oke @Okesisi, poet, writer, journalist and winner of 2017 @nigeriaLNG Prize for Literature. I’ll forever cherish one of his poems dedicated to me in his 2012 collections, ‘In The Wings Of Waiting’. May he rest in peace.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) November 26, 2018
Born on May 23, 1967 in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, Oke had a Bachelor in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar and MA in Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He gained nationwide fame in 2017 when he won the Nigeria Prize for Literature for his book, The Heresiad.
He was presented with a cheque of $100,000 (N37million) by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited.
His poems and other writings have appeared in journals, anthologies and other publications worldwide.
He has performed his poems at various fora in Nigeria, South Africa and the United States.
