On April 23, 2023, the literary world lost a giant: Peter Enahoro, aka ‘Peter Pan’. He was a gifted writer, who tackled big issues with lucid prose and rare courage. His 744-page book, Then, Spoke the Thunder, reads like a personal and political history of Nigeria, chronicling the seismic events of the 1966 coups that altered the course of the country irrevocably.
Enahoro was a member of the Government College Ughelli (GCU) Class of 1948, and a contemporary of other literary greats such as Professor Emeritus John Pepper Clark who recently passed away. Enahoro’s rise to fame was meteoric – he became editor of Africa’s highest circulating newspaper, Daily Times, in his 20s.
His fearless journalistic style, as exemplified in his famous column, ‘Peter Pan’, meant that his meteoric rise was accompanied by hardships. He was forced into exile for 56 years after daring to criticise the military rulers of the 1960s. He was later to be awarded the GCU Leading Lights in Humanities Award, along with other distinguished Old Boys of his alma mater.
Enahoro’s literary prowess was further highlighted in his witty 1966 book, “How to be a Nigerian,” which remains a best-seller to date. The book provides a humorous, yet insightful cultural induction for expatriates or foreigners visiting Nigeria for the first time.
Enahoro was a loving and proud father who left a legacy for his sons to follow. In dedicating his last book to them, he encouraged them to embrace their history, as it defined their identity and earmarked their cubicle in humanity’s archives.
As we mourn the passing of this literary giant, we celebrate his life and legacy. His passing reminds us of the futility of human life and underscores the need for us to cherish the moments we have and use them to make the world a better place.
Enahoro was indeed a jolly good fellow, and his absence will be keenly felt by the GCU Old Boys Association and the entire literary community in Nigeria and beyond. Nonetheless, his words will continue to inspire future generations of writers, ensuring that his legacy endures.
Eromosele, former NNPC executive and past VP of GCUOBA Lagos branch, was a classmate of Enahoro at GCU.
