Why I Jailed Soyinka, By Gowon
From Toba Suleiman in Abeokuta
Former military leader, General Yakubu Gowon, at the weekend disclosed that the incarceration of the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka by his administration in 1967, was not done out of hatred.
He said the prevalent circumstance at that time in Nigeria precipitated the imprisonment.
Speaking at a banquet organized by the Ogun State Government, to mark Soyinka's 70th birthday anniversary in Abeokuta, Gowon explained that his regime decided to keep the Nobel Laureate away from circulation because he was becoming a threat to the nation's security. He, however, regretted the action.
"I happened to be the man in charge of Nigeria then and there was one young man who did not accept anything in uniform to be in charge. He was trying to do everything he could to disrupt the normal situation.
"We sat down and thought of what we could do to him and we decided that we must not allow him to circulate any more. We agreed the decision to be taken by us had to be urgent," he said.
According to him, if Soyinka was left alone at that time, something funny could have happened because, "he was bent on not only changing the tape as he did in the (former Western Region Premier, Chief SLA) Akintola saga, but also to change the Federal Government and its leadership. So, we had to act very fast."
Describing Soyinka as an unparalleled literary giant, Gowon said he later ordered his release after the literature teacher had spent about 28 months in detention when it became obvious that there was nothing anybody could do to change the situation on ground.
However, Gowon explained that despite the situation his (Soyinka) life was never in danger.
"My government at that time did not tolerate any situation like that. So, he had a nice time, about 2 years, four months.
"He had a nice time so much that while in detention, he thought of writing books. And he wrote a book entitled The Man Died. Was it me that died or the writer of the book because at that time, there was rumour that Soyinka had died in prison?"
"I am sorry for keeping you there. I hope you had a good rest. It has made you better. It was unfortunate we had to keep you out of circulation because we thought leaving you out there was dangerous. We were both young at that time and we both loved our country with a passion. May you live long for the good of the nation."
Responding, Soyinka expressed delight at the efforts of Ogun Sate government in organising the banquet in his honour and also thanked individuals who were involved in the ceremony.
While disclosing that he had never seen Gowon as an enemy, the Nobel laureate said he was happy to play host to him, just as he expressed appreciation to one Rasheed who he said facilitated his leaving Nigeria during the reign of General Sani Abacha.
Soyinka, who described his exit from the country as traumatic said: "I went for hunting and I lost my way. Suddenly, I found myself on the other side of the country's border riding on Okada through 'Igbo Irunmale' (mysterious forest) for 10 hours. It was not a joke."
In his welcome address titled "Celebrating Courage", Governor Gbenga Daniel described Soyinka as a leader who remained focused since his childhood. He added that the celebrant's achievements in life were unparalleled in all human endeavours.
"At 70, our Wole Soyinka had bequeathed a legacy of courage, discipline, resourcefulness, hard work and determination to us all", Daniel said. He added that the Nobel Laureate remained the General who leads his army to the battle ground and refuses to join the league of fair-weather fighters who prefer to fire salvos while relaxing in their castles abroad.
Soyinka was jailed in the period of the civil war which lasted between 1967 and 1970 after he had championed a cause to rally elements both in the then Biafra and the Nigerian territories against the war.
Soyinka in his campaigns believed that the war was a machination by the then military government on both sides to perpetuate themselves in power.
He later took the campaign to the Biaran territories where he met top intellectuals and literary giants like Christoper Okigbo to oppose the war.
He was arrested on his return from the Biafran territories and put in jail by the military authorities for two years four months.
His book The Man Died was the account of stay in prison and the event that led to the arrest.
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