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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Obasanjo, Kanu, others eulogise Soyinka at 70abiodun obimuyiwa, thomas uyense, afolabi akinolaPRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, saying the literary icon, deserved all the accolades heaped on him by well-wishers on turning 70. The President�s message came as former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu at a lecture to mark Soyinka�s birthday in Lagos, said that for the country to attain sustain-able unity, it must practice true federalism. Obasanjo who sent Soyinka a goodwill message despite the perceived frosty relationship between them, duo declared: �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 the realisation of your vision of a greater Nigeria, it is very fitting, indeed, that Nigerians from all walks of life and all parts of the country should celebrate with you and share the special joy of the occasion with you and your family,� he added. The President said to be fortunate to reach the age of 70 was a great opportunity to take stock of �what one has done with the time God has granted him or her in this world of ours.� He argued that in Soyinka�s case, �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.� Obasanjo, while lauding the Nobel Laureate for his contributions to the society, said the achievement has brought honour and recognition to the country as well as made him one of the role models of millions of Nigerians. He said: �your immense achievements in the academic and literary world, which were crowned with the Nobel prize for literature have brought greater honour and glory to you and to your fatherland. They have also made you a worthy role model for millions of youth in Nigeria and other parts of the world. �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, grey distinguishingly and distinctively,� he added. Meanwhile in the lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) to commemorate the day, Admiral Kanu, noted that the only thing that has changed with the coming of the present dispensation was the replacement of militating uniforms with civilians clothes. �Only someone who is foolish will fail to realise that no matter the time spent on travelling on a wrong road and the distance covered on this road, the only remedy is to turn away from the wrong road, otherwise the intended destination will never be attained,� he said. He explained that it was obvious that all of Nigeria�s to the right road, noting that the problems of not returning to the right road have led to the erosion of patriotism, and corruption in the country. Kanu who was the guest speaker, said on the issue of national conference, many have tended to make a mountain not just out of molehill, but also out of no hill, adding that national conference was vital and necessary, not to invent or reinvent the wheel, but to return to the only way (federalism) that could allow Nigeria to continue to exist as a country. �There is really no point assessing the performance of governance, local, state or federal. It is mere rhetoric to state that our problem is leadership. Even if you put a genius and Angel to run this country the way its structure is, we shall continue to wallow in all that we do detest, and keep pitying ourselves, the unitary structure is not feasible, it is not tenable,� Kanu said. However said that it was only those who did not wish the country to survive as a nation that are opposed to the returning to the only way that Nigeria could continue as a country of people wishing, wanting and keen to live together, made collective progress and have a sense of belonging ass a patriotic Nigeria. In his remarks the President of the Nigeria labour Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, saluted the courage of Professor Wole Soyinka for standing for truth in spite of all odds noting that the only way the nation would move forward was to emulate the principles the Professor stand for. On the issue of rotation of presidency to different zones ion the country, the NLC boss, said that the rotation of presidency was not the nation�s problem, saying that as long as the present structure still remain, on ground, the nation�s leaders would continue to rotate among the thieves. Wednesday, July 14, 2004 |
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