Explains link with Amaechi
AT
79, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka,
seems not to have lost his zeal for standing up against those he
perceives to use their public office to oppress others in Nigeria.
And
though the afternoon open-door lecture series was supposed to be a
commemoration of his birthday, he quickly swapped the garment of a
celebrant with that of a political activist as it became necessary.
Referring to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s alleged meddling
in the affairs of Rivers State and abuse of power, Soyinka asked,
“What’s the problem with Madam Shepopotamus?”
Fielding questions
from a member of the audience at the African Centre in Covent Garden,
venue of Saturday’s “WS79 – Memoirs of Our Future: An Audience with
Prof. Wole Soyinka,” he said he was not afraid to stand up and call the
First Lady to order and also educate her if she cannot take a cue from
how other first ladies behave.
“People said I call her a domestic appendage, what’s the problem with that? What’s the problem with Madam Shepopotamus?”
Pressed
to comment on the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, Soyinka
revealed: “What happened in Rivers began long ago, before five decided
that five was greater than 27. If we don’t move in support of the truth
at certain mathematics, we shouldn’t be surprised if the next
mathematics anomaly takes place at our doorstep.”
He added: “We move when there’s interference, when all roads are closed – for hours - because she’s going to her hairdresser.”
He
argued that if members of the civil society do nothing when such abuse
is taking place in Rivers, Ibadan and Lagos, then Nigerians should not
be surprised when a curfew is imposed the next time she is visiting
their state.
He called on Dame Jonathan to take a cue from
President Barack Obama’s wife, stating: “We ask unelected people to look
around and see how the Mrs. Michelle Obamas of the world are conducting
themselves,” adding, however, that if the Dames of this world do not
learn, “we must educate them.”
Asked if he was a friend of the
embattled Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Soyinka replied: “That
Amaechi is my friend is not an allegation,” because he would be friends
with anyone who has been given the mandate of the people through the
electoral process.
According to him, he is not afraid to be
associated with such if they are fulfilling their obligations and
responsibilities of governance. He added: “To say the Governor of Rivers
is my close friend is like saying Kayode Fayemi or Dr. Babangida Aliyu
or Governor Ibikunle Amosun or even the Second Republic Governor,
Mohammed Shugaba, in Shagari’s administration, is my friend.”
However,
Soyinka said ‘it’s not a matter of friendship,” but defence of
democracy and truth, stressing that he would not be afraid to switch
loyalty if the people he once praised change and start oppressing the
very people who elected them.
Meanwhile, he commended Governor
Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State who he said has provided educational
opportunities for all in the state.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/national-news/127772-why-im-at-war-with-first-lady-by-soyinka http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=15625
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