2007: I'm Not IBB's Campaigner, Says Soyinka
Chides FG for revoking Slok airline's licence
By Joseph Ushigiale
Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday his recent statement on the need for former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, to apologise for his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections, stating that he was not campaigning for the former military leader believed to be running for the 2007 presidency.
"The apology would be one of the several steps that IBB would have to take to politically rehabilitate himself for admission into the polity, but not necessarily a ticket to join the 2007 presidential elections," Soyinka said.
Soyinka, who spoke yesterday in Lagos also took a swipe at the Federal Government over its decision to shut down and revoke the operational licence of Slok Airline, believed to be owned by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
"When I called on IBB to apologise, the apology to Nigerians would be one of the several conditions which he has to fulfil to rehabilitate himself before Nigerians, and to also qualify him to walk the streets. It does not necessarily mean an automatic ticket for him to either join politics or contest the 2007 presidential elections." Soyinka said.
He said he had at no time canvassed a position which would reflect that an apology was all it mattered to re-integrate the former military leader who annulled June 12, 1993 presidential polls into mainstream politics, adding that "I take strong exception to such statements and thinking."
He enjoined Nigerians to consider contributions by Special Duties Minister in the Abacha administration, Alhaji Wada Nas with a pinch of salt, adding that "people should know that Nas has constituted himself to a national clown and we must enjoy it."
Following Soyinka's call on Babangida to apologise, Nas had accused the Nobel Laureate of being anti-North, adding that it is Obasanjo who should be asked to apologise for misgovernance.
Soyinka dismissed proponents of power shift to the North insisting that all Nigerians have the constitutional right to contest the 2007 presidential elections.
According to him, " where did we agree that power should shift to the North? It doesn't matter that Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-west is president, any other person from this zone can contest and if he wins, he can also be president. What Nigerians should be looking at are the credentials of presidential candidates. Emphasis should be on credibility and not which zone produces the next president, it is undemocratic."
He also took on gospel singer, Pastor Sonny Okosun for accusing him of laundering IBB's image, saying, "it is a shocking lie that I have ever been employed by any government in Nigeria. Since I left the University of Ibadan in 1995, I have never been employed by any government in Nigeria. I want Okosun to show where I collected even sitting allowance while on the board of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)."
Soyinka explained that he merely put in voluntary service to FRSC and neither used any of its facilities nor drew any allowances and salaries within the period. "Unlike other members, I operated from my private office."
"I challenge Okosun as a man of God to come and show where I took a job with the government. I was employed by the University of Ibadan and if he insists on telling lies I implore him to get off my back because I have better and pleasant things to do."
On the closure of Slok Airline and the revocation of its operational licence, Soyinka accused the Federal Government of pursuing a political vendetta against Kalu for accusing Ag. Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, of plotting to kill him (Kalu).
Soyinka, who described the action taken by the Federal Government as "an injustice not carried out in any society in the world and a national embarrassment which speaks ill of government," challenged the National Assembly to rise to the occasion by "intervening to save the several jobs that have been put on the line as a result of this action."
On the confrontation between the Minister of Works and the Lagos State Government over the control of highways, Soyinka said "anybody who would act in a way that would start a mini-civil war should be cautioned. For me, Ogunlewe requires severe caution. What is happening is the height of anti-human endeavour, the battle for Lagos is at the expense of Lagos people."
He said the order given by the Federal Government to the Inspector General of Police (IGP)to invade all shrines in the country only underscores "how government overreacts when dealing with issues. I want to tell (Ohaneze Secretary General Joe) Achuzie that there are two kinds of shrines: criminal and beatific shrines, his statement on the Okija incident is shocking."
Following the discovery of over 20 skulls and decomposing human bodies at Okija shrine, Achuzie accused the police of bringing Igbo tradition to disrepute, adding that there are similar shrines across the country.
Soyinka enjoined the IGP and the police to "carry out thorough forensic investigation into the bodies found in the shrines in Okija. If possible, samples should be sent abroad for thorough forensic investigations because some of these people may resort to the use of acid to destroy evidence. Achuzie should not disrupt and pre-empt this process."
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