Despite his seeming old age at 79, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka, still believes he has the strength to stand up to those he perceives to use their public office to oppress others in Nigeria.
He was speaking on the backdrop of his recent public spat with President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.
And
though the afternoon open-door lecture series tagged “WS79 – Memoirs of
Our Future: An Audience with Prof. Wole Soyinka,” was supposed to be a
commemoration of his birthday, the renowned thespian quickly delved into
familiar terrain as he touched on the subject of the First Lady, her
alleged interference in the affairs of Rivers State and abuse of power.
While
fielding questions from a member of the audience at the event which
held at the African Centre in Covent Garden, London on Saturday, Prof.
Soyinka said he was not afraid to call the First Lady to order and also
enlighten her if she cannot take a cue from how first ladies in other
climes behave.
“People said I call her a domestic appendage, what’s the problem with that? What’s the problem with Madam Shepopotamus?”
Shedding
more light 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
warned that if members of the civil society remain indifferent to the
abuse of office perpetrated by the president’s wife in states where she
has visited, then Nigerians should not be surprised when a curfew is
imposed the next time she is visiting their state.
The
Nobel Laureate called on Mrs. Jonathan to borrow a leaf from Michelle,
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.”
Responding
to a question if he was a friend of the embattled governor of Rivers
State, Mr. 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.
He
stressed that he would not shy away from identifying with public office
holders if they are fulfilling their obligations and responsibilities
of governance.
“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”, he stated.
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Atleast i can say kudos to u Prof. for standing for d truth. Bc i kn ur a close friend to Mr GEJ but still stand firm to tell him d truth wen h's wrong on his actions.God bless u.
ReplyDeleteKONGI MASTER! U've SPOKEN WELL, but I wld like U to SPEAK LESS on this MATTER as DAME is ONLY a WOMAN. We know that most WOMEN are CONTROLLED by the POWER/AUTHORITY that POSSESS.
ReplyDeleteDat dame is a woman is nut an excuse,she shud learn frm people like mitchell obama truly and shud stp interfering in national issues as if its her house matas afterall we voted for her husband and nut her
ReplyDeleteProf, b4 now I bow and genuflate at d mention of ur name. But I tell u most solemnly that I am disappointed in ur stance on River state issue. U r not on ground. Anybody who supports Tyranic Gov. Amaechi is as bad as Amaechi. Stop abusing d first lady and behave like Chinua Achebe. Old fool
ReplyDeleteYour father is the damn OLD FOOL, Idiot!
DeleteU should learn to stop thinking wit ur anus and use ur head next time before you write...Prof. Soyinka was right and i stand by him..
DeleteYour lineage are retards. I don't blame you, when your mother refused to use postinor, Omo ale. Ur leprosy infested father is a fool.
DeleteThat is the basic truth my prof said
ReplyDeleteIf prof is married he shud show some respects to other people's spouses.correction is good but the prof is going too far.we all condemn impunity but is prof saying dat Amaechi is totaly faultless?,his attacks lack balance.
DeleteThis is Nigeria.. if u dont spel it out for them you have nt statred talking...
DeleteIts our tax she use for all this extravagancy..
Our country is dying cause of people like her..
70% of Nigerians are on/below average and poverty level
Prof. I suggest u talk less'cos of ur age and the respect pple have for you instead of condescending so low to haggle with a woman , it makes u look and sound petty .
ReplyDeleteLaught ...babab prof.na woman u dey fight wey ur bone dey strong like this? Why you know fight OBJ ur town man the time he stil dey govt.....baba u dont old o no colaps....pls....i dey laught o
ReplyDeletewhat i jus understood from 'our' prof's comment is that he has been finding means previously to diss mrs jonathan,he simply dont like her. To u anonymous talking of michelle what do you know abt michelle? Is it because d prof. called her? To be sincere am dissapointed in wole soyinka...
ReplyDeleteDo Michelle close road for hours because she’s going to her hairdresser.? Its u I am dissapointed with...
DeleteI've said it before some fools have been paid peanuts to attack anybody with constructive criticism to the clueless president and his dumb wife shepupotamous on naijaeye. All I ve to say iz a big pity to your family. As for anonymous 8.58am I know u r refering to your parents and lineage as old fools. Stupid Sycophant that don't mean well for this country because u benefit from the lootacracy & shepopotamocracy Govt. God will judge us all
ReplyDeleteSOYINKA you have to shut up your mouth, before I used to respect you,Dame have accepted her mistake they are trying to bring peace back to Rivers, now you are talking, let me ask you, is your wife a porffesor? learn how to be quite atimes.
ReplyDeleteProf. you are on the right track. you did the-same to OBJ, IBB, even GOWON. So, tell tell all that you thesame Man at all time. People may be given money to write nonsense, PLEASE TELL the Mrs.GOODLUCK (Hippotamy) secretary's, or personal assistance, or her public relation writers, to reply PROF.I think they were trying to reply before now. BIG fools in the ASOROCK. Nigerians masses were not chicken. Thank God for the like of SOYINKA, Gani fawehinmi, Dr. Kuti. Balarebe Musa, Ken saro wiwa, and few others. Fuck YOU the uneducated first lady.
ReplyDeleteThat is an un-necessary abuse of the first lady. Why not stay on the matter of concern instead of descending low to be calling her a "Shepopotamus".
ReplyDeleteI saw that 'shepopotamus'. that was heavy. lwkmfh. ahahahaha
ReplyDeleteProf U̶̲̅ feels so supercilious...who d hell U̶̲̥̅̊ tink U̶̲̥̅̊ re? Learn frm great men like Chinua Achebe.Do U̶̲̥̅̊ tink a prof in America would stand up in any podium outside America and talk bulshit abt Michelle.Prof respect u̶̲̥̅̊я̲̅ oldage o!
ReplyDeleteNigerian, my pple Nigerian, when are u pple going to learn to call a spade a spade. What this man is saying is true and absolutely true, he said she should take clue from Mitchell Obama. Is it not true. I read that road was closed for hours because she was going for her hair dressing. How many time has anyone here in U.K. hear Samantha Cameron misbehaviour of any sort. Every of our own things is always different. I was at Nigerian high commission some couple of weeks a go,there is no difference with this abuse of power. The same thin in Republic of Ireland to mention but few. Am afraid if anything will ever go in a right direction in that country. The man is saying what is right and u pple are calling him names. You ought to know what is bad is bad simple. I rest my case. T.J.
ReplyDeleteI think prof is saying the truth. Let her take cue from Michele Obama, she doesn't interfere unnecessarily in national issues. A woman should put herself in respectable position, in fact away from issues that border on political differences.
ReplyDeleteIts not a matter of 'woman' as u african village, bush ,uncivilized men are saying....forget dat rubbish gender sentiment and grow up...a sane woman is same as a sane man(its frm dat point of reasoning dat d prof has responded)
ReplyDeleteIf a common Man will avoid joining issues with a woman then Soyinka is living below expectation.
ReplyDeletesoyinka, hw dere u speak 2 our first lady dat way, u should at least give her respect... i use 2 respect u but now....
ReplyDeleteI had so much respected this man b4. Little did I knw he can behave this way n 4get abt d culture of his fatherland. Look @ d way he s talking 2 smbody's wife. Can he stand this if his wife is being attack dis way? I am dissapointed in u. U nw resemble d real educated idiot n nt educated elite I thot u were.
ReplyDeleteShepopotamus, do not speak for her. Let her respond in her own English and let's see the grammar. She cannot, because PA is there to open dictionary before writing one word in response. Did she finished her secondary school. We know her as fisher man's daughter. More especially when she was selling her thing in Ph& Okrika to meet up in those days. Amaechi is trying to open their eyes by building schools which is what the water side people needs now, that's Wole Soyinka's joy while fraternising with the governor. Imagine Okrika,Tokunbo abi Belgium woman trying to join issues with a world acclaim personality. I bet you, where Soyinka stand to speak ten of GEJ will stay behind while world, great leaders and intellectual listen with rapt attention. I tell you since GEJ took over after 2011 coup, I cannot stand to listen to his noisy and uninteresting voice. Who ever knows him and care for him should tell him to prepare to leave Asso rock by the end of 2014 or early 2015 after the election. He has disgrace not only N/D but the entire minority of this great country.
ReplyDeleteThere so many Influential Nigerians who alwaysys advice and caution GEJ on issues that bothers on the nation, ONLY AN ENEMY CAUTION IN PUBLIC.
ReplyDeleteSoyinka's action on this issue is good But it has a political Undertone, a good aim but a bad motive. Nigerians are easily Manipulated,
Boko Haram is going down now they are coming up with Issues, 4 governors hold meeting with IBB over rivers Crisis,But they never thought it wise to hold meeting on Boko Haram that has caused us over 6,000 souls. Give GEJ a bad name
PROF IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. MADAM SHEPOPOTAMUS SOLD HER RESPECT LONG AGO TO KILL INNOCENT NIGERIANS IN RIVERS STATE IN THE NAME OF POLITICKING WHERE SHE IS SUPPOSE TO PRESS 4 MEDIATION. I AM SURE SHE NEVER LIKE TO EXPOSE HER BIOLOGICAL CHILD TO THUGGERY AS SHE HAS DONE IN SOME FEW MONTHS AGO. SHE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE POOR NIGERIAN MASSES TO HER OWN SCORE. IT IS A BIG SHAME. AMAECHI MAY BE WRONG IN SOME OF HIS ACTIONS AND IN-ACTIONS BUT AS A WOMAN AND A MOTHER AS MANY CLAIM SHLD NEVER THINK OF ENGAGING IN SUCH UNWARRANTED FIGHT.PROF IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND ALL NIGERIANS SHOULD CONDEMN HER ACTIONS IN INSTIGATING UNWARRANTED CRISIS IN HER VERY HOME STATE, JUST SEEKING FOR RELEVANCE. IT IS A PITY. I LIVE IN PHC BUT VE NO POLITICAL TIES AND NEVER WANT TO BE BUT THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD. SHE IS THE PROBLEM IN RIVERS AND SHE IS TACTICALLY BUILDING HATRED IN PDP. TUKUR MUST LIVE TO HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT NIGERIANS AND RESIST THE MOVE TO ENSLAVE ALL NIGERIANS BY MADAM SHEPOPOTAMUS AND OGA GEJ (WITH DUE RESPECT TO HIM)
ReplyDeletewho ever insults Prof is a BIG FOOL playing with his or her children's future! Prof have fault so many untold wars and he's still doing same, who is your first lady by the way? does she has 2 heads? fools wasting tax payers money... instead of her praying for the country and advising the husband she's busy fighting Rotimi and creating enemy for her self.yeye just do get out of that Aso Rock... Remember no be your family house sha better still if your tenure expires carry the gate go your town...
ReplyDeleteanonymous 7:49AM you are the worst empty headed sycophant I have met on this platform and am disappointed that idiots like you could have access to this place. Your MAMA go school at all? why you dey ask whether Prof wife go school. Your sister dame wey go school na wetin she learn come. "fellow widow"!
ReplyDeleteProf.Soyinka must be a fool. What do you stand to gain quarrelling with a woman? Is it because your dirty deals with Amaechi is about to come to an end?.Do not dare come Rivers State AGAIN. Amaechi has paid your flight ticket to London, you are there with him talking trash.
ReplyDeleteAm not surprise bunch of naive and ignorant who no not their right to claim. Being a first lady does not amount to any thing even angel get punished. We are tired of being toy with like puppet; Nigerian's are very sinsitive to inbalance and corruption , why wouldn't they support bad thing. At least, one person is standing rebuking the wrongs and you are still critisizing him for voicing out on our behalf, oh is not strange we have many savages in our mix, God help us .
ReplyDeleteProf, Prof, Prof, how many times I call you?
ReplyDeleteBy picking on the First Lady at every gathering means your unbiased stance on issues in the past needs questioning Is it the small change Amechi gives to you each time he invites you to grace occasions in Rivers state that is making you to drop your guard? I thought on that your club you preach talk less and act. You have joined the sycophants club. What Amechi did by punishing those against him is wrong All these his arrogance will not take him anywhere A child that invites visitors to tear his house apart will not see peace also The Northerners playing the music that he is dancing to now as masquerade will stop beating the music soon and he will be on his own
Please to keep the respect some of us have for you just don't join this Amechi's war with his brother They will settle and you will be left in the cold. According to Dame she is surprised at your stance in this issue
She lost her mum on that same road that caused all these fights with the Presidency
Please respect her as a wife of somebody, you will not be happy if someone decides to talk to your wife like that on the pages of newspapers
I know you don't believe there is God but please as a literate man try and read from from the sayings in the book of Psalm and be guided
Johnson
Prof Wole should be made to account for the public office he held under IBB. Prof, do you think we don't know what happened then. We have not forgotten. It is better and safer for you to face your research and leave the first lady alone. When Gov Amechi is brought into focus, I know that prof will speak evil of him. Nigeria is complex and I am surprise that prof seemed not to follow the trend. Let peace reign in this country for once.
ReplyDelete