If it is true that the classification of prose and poetry is often quite instinctive; I see no reason why Professor Niyi Osundare's denigrating composition about Nigerian politicians should mandatorily be dignified with a poetical response; in fact, doing so would even limit the number of readership in this important matter. Talk of poetry (written in English language); Niyi Osundare remains a paragon of exceptional prowess, for he is acclaimed pretty professional. In fact, he is referred as one of Africa's foremost poets. Alas! This astute poet eventually goofed as he gamboled further afield into the National Assembly crisis.

Poets of the calibre of Professor Osundare shouldn't get deafened by the revved noise that politicians make, so as not to distance themselves from the realities at hand. But, without the slightest sense of carefulness - Osundare twisted his waist to the smear tactic of political snare drum beaters. It is not in the nature of professional poets to put pen to paper simply because of some plethora of nebulous news about politics; for many issues that could make a prosaist clutch his head in confusion, would propel a poet to ponder in his privacy; to pave way for the spontaneous oozing of feelings devoid of prejudice.

Almost immediately after the emergence of the Leader of the 8th Senate, a number of hacks, including some fame-seeking 'professional' journalists, made moves to drag the name of the Senate President through the mire; even some ardent academics made impassioned comments for fear of the unknown. Some were curiously burnishing their addled brains in a manner that they hoped would endear them to political godfathers; whom they stealthily praise to the skies.

But those write-ups, regardless of whatever journalistic altruism and patriotic objectivity from which they're claimed to have emanated, have shown a superb example of partisan piece-fevered and laboriously vanished to be in sync with people's position. Alas! Gone are the days when Nigerians could hardly differentiate between phoney and genuinely objective piece of writing on politics. If a wise man is faced with the options of having to transcribe the dictation of an adenoidal voice, and a hasty jotting of the quotation of a famished ventriloquist, to avoid making a queer choice; PATIENCE must be his watchword - lest he careens off course; while attempting to juxtapose the synergy between the options.

Professor Osundare's 'Blues for the New Senate King' reads to me a clear allusion to Senator Bukola Saraki. Though the poet possesses the gift of rational discernment without having to don the garb of prejudice in his writings, in this situation this fails him. His blinkered and atrocious poem on the person of the senate president undermines his erudition.

This is not to pigeon hole poetry as an apolitical genre of literature;far from it! The simple truth is that it requires more than creativity to become a reliable critic. Candid critics need not be told to shred the wings of petty condescension and spitefulness before doing the needful. While eschewing the principles of self-restraint, Osundare's hurtful poem unveils some elements of subjectivity - arrant disgust of immature political persona adopting an avant-garde poetical approach. His partisan labeling of 'the Senate King' prevents readers from actually fathoming the neutrality of his stance from the opening stanza. His condescension with, and sympathy for, Nigerian politicians is dodgy; while his highfalutin alliterations and repetition of some certain words further expose his sentimental views.

I urge the Prof. to always verify facts; because the distance between New Orleans and Abuja is not keremi. Not only will this allow you to substantiate information at your disposal, it will also help you come off as less of an ignorant as far as politics in Nigeria is concerned.

It is hoped that one day our celebrated, American based critic will return to see the reality on ground. It is only then that he would know whereto throw his academic weight; for he (in his own right) is the lens through which many view Nigeria out there in the U.S.A.

Sheriff Olanrewaju writes from Ilorin.