LAGOS — ON the occasion of the 70th birthday celebration of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, one-time military governor of Imo and Lagos States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, declared yesterday in Lagos that the therapy for Nigeria to attain true development, prosperity and political stability laid in its capacity to embrace true federalism.
Prof. Soyinka himself reviewing the polity on BBC, accused the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of trying to manipulate elections to transform the nation’s political landscape into a “one-party democracy.”
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been locked in a running battle with the Nobel Laureate since his (Obasanjo’s) return to power in 1999, surprised on lookers at the birthday lecture by congratulating an author widely seen as his most eloquent critic.
Only two months ago, the acclaimed playwright and activist was tear-gassed and briefly arrested during an anti-government rally in Lagos.
Admiral Kanu, guest speaker at the lecture organised by the Pyrates Confraternity co-founded by Prof. Soyinka, said the inability of Nigerian leaders to toe the path of true federalism and their failure to appreciate the implication of the heterogeneous nature of the country had only resulted in the various political uprisings, marginalisation, and social injustices in the country.
He said : “The wellspring of corruption in this country is precisely the corruption that stems from what should and must be ‘federal’ centre but is de facto ‘unitary’... view it as you like; carry out as much analysis as you please, you will come to the conclusion that this is the source of Nigeria’s multiplying corruption; the source of all, repeat, all our troubles. So long as it remains a unitarised centre, so long shall we continue facing forward and moving backward.
“I hold that for Nigeria to remain sustained as a country, and for it to become prosperous, it has to revert to the status of a true federation— an entity composed of federating units.”
The former military chief, therefore, stressed the need for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, stressing that it would provide the platform for a meaningful dialogue for the constituting members of the polity to seek for a way forward.
“On the Sovereign National Conference (SNC), many have tended to make mountain not just out of mole hill, but also out of no hill. The SNC is vital and necessary, not to invent or re-invent the wheel, but to return to the only way ( federalism) that could allow Nigeria to continue to exist as a country; the only way it can have real peace and make progress; the only way that the peoples will get back a sense of belonging which leads to patriotism; the only way to revive the soul and spirit of Nigeria,” he said, adding:
“The National Conference, dialogue by the peoples of the country is a positive-driven exercise. It is not divisive; what is divisive is continued or delayed commencement of the conference. He, therefore, described as ‘short-sighted’ those Nigerians who oppose the convocation of the conference, arguing that the failure of the Nigerian project contrary to popular belief that the failure is deriving from leadership is rather erroneous but is driving from the nation’s structural imbalance. The short-sighted discourse now on regards changing the drivers, but not repairing of the ailing vehicle underlies a sad, costly, waste of time and a curious lack of vision.”
On the clamour for Igbo Presidency come 2007, Kanu argued that the clamour is derived from the same structural imbalance, which is witnessed in the polity and has as a result left certain essential parts of the country from all political and power configurations. He tongue-lashed those Nigerians, who deride the Igbo for their clamour for the presidency, stressing that “the proper way to look at the quest for Igbo presidency should be in it’s proper perspective.”
Obasanjo greets Soyinka
President Obasanjo surprised the audience at the lecture when he sent through his spokesperson, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, to the celebration, a congratulatory letter for Prof. Soyinka. The president in the two-page letter said: “Your attainment of the grand age of three score years and 10, which the holy book tells us is the God-given time in this world that a man may reasonably expect to use, pain and trouble-free is a most remarkable milestone in your illustrious and achievement-filled life.
”Having striven over many years of your life, in your own very special and unique ways to contribute to therealisation of your vision of a greater Nigeria, it is very fitting, indeed, that Nigerians from all walks oflife and all parts of the country should celebrate with you and share the special joy of the occasionwith you and your family.”For those who are fortunate enough to attain it, the age of 70 years is a very good time, indeed to takestock of what one has done with the time God has granted him or her in this World of ours. You can be reasonably satisfied that you have done your best with great talents God blessed you with at birth and which you had opportunity to develop and utilise for humankind in general.
“If perhaps your mind turns to such introspection in the midst of the many events lined up to celebrateyour 70th birthday, I believe that you can be reasonably satisfied that you have done your best withthe great talents God blessed you with at birth and which you had opportunity to develop and utilize forhumankind in general. I pray that the Almighty God will in His infinite mercies grant you many more years of service to our country and humankind as you grow old, gray distinguishingly and distinctively.”
Prof Soyinka himself was not at the lecture.
Soyinka carpets govt
However, in an interview on BBC, Prof. Soyinka accused government of executive lawlessness. Last year he founded the Citizens’ Forum which aims to lobby against “anti-democratic tendencies” in Nigeria.
“There has been a lot of executive lawless in this country,” he said, explaining why he set up the forum.
He accused members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of wanting to manipulate elections to transform Nigeria’s political landscape into a “one-party democracy”, and said government viewed the Citizens’ Forum with alarm due in part to the deference with which he is treated in Nigeria.
“When such a representative section of the nation comes together, I do not blame the government for believing there is a formidable challenge being mounted to its waywardness,” he said.
Turning to the future, he said on a personal note he most feared senility, but would not be drawn on the future of Nigeria’s democracy. “I never allow myself to be hopeful or pessimistic; I take Nigeria as an on-going project.”
Asked if he would die for Nigeria, which has been a topic of heated discussion since President Obasanjo said earlier this month that Nigerians should be prepared to die for their country, Prof. Soyinka said it would depend on the circumstances. “But I’m not setting out to die for any abstruse concept, especially an artificial concept like Nigeria.”
Despite the celebratory poetry readings, stage productions, lectures and parties that have been organised across Nigeria, the Nobel Laureate said he did not enjoy the public attention. “I like to be left alone on my birthday,” he said.
