Prof. Wole Soyinka Archives - Voice of Liberty NG

Restructuring: Soyinka calls for decentralisation in Nigeria

March 2, 2024March 2, 2024 Aminu Imam

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has called for decentralisation in Nigeria, saying leaders should stop taking the country for a ride. The Professor, who made the call on Thursday, during the 50th-anniversary lecture of Punch Nigeria Limited in Lagos, Delivering the lecture titled: ‘Recovering the Narrative’, said Nigeria requires decentralisation to enhance the well-being of its citizens. Soyinka advocated decentralisation as a means to bring governance closer to the people. He said politicians understand the significance of restructuring but change their stance once in power. The Professor addressed concerns about the…

“Technology creating a new generation of Nigerian illiterates” – Soyinka

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023 Aminu Imam

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has said that the introduction of technology is creating a new generation of illiterates. The literary icon stated this out at the CANEX Live Theatre closing ceremony of the 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2023, in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday. Soyinka said: “I want us to understand that, on the other hand, there’s a new culture taking place, about which we have to be very careful; I call it the Internet culture. “This is a marvelous technology; this is a liberating technology. The so-called Arab Spring,…

2023: ‘Soyinka breaks silence on Muslim-Muslim ticket

August 24, 2022August 24, 2022 Aminu Imam

Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has finally broken the silence over the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Recall that the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is a Muslim from the South-West, announced fellow Muslim from the North-East, Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the forthcoming general elections. The move sparked criticism from some eminent Nigerians, who described it as an “injustice” to the Christian fold. Prof. Soyinka, who spoke on a…

Osun Election: “Those who catapulted Ige’s destroyers to prominence justly served” – Soyinka

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 Aminu Imam

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday, said those who conspired to catapult the Late Chief Bola Ige’s destroyers to unmerited national prominence have been justly served by the outcome of the Osun State governorship election. Recall that Ademola Adeleke, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, to emerge the winner of the State’s governorship election, which was held on Saturday. Reacting to the ruling party’s loss in an issued statement yesterday, Soyinka said the voice of Ajibola Ige, slain Minister of Justice, resounded from beyond…

‘Insurgency will soon spread to other parts of Nigeria’, Soyinka warns FG

May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 Aminu Imam

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has warned that the current spate of insurgency enveloping Northern Nigeria would soon spread to other parts of the country if the Federal Government doesn’t act decisively and employ ‘lateral thinking and new constructs outside orthodox boxes of military engagement’. The Nobel laureate gave the warning in an address at the launching of the memorial publication on the Late General Ibrahim Attahiru, which was held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja, on Saturday. He noted that the current spate of insurgency challenging the country spreads at…

Home Security: “Seek international help over insecurity’ – Wole Soyinka tells Buhari

April 9, 2022April 9, 2022 Aminu Imam

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek international help in combating the perennial security crisis in the country. The playwright spoke at a press conference he tagged: ‘Forget the past, forfeit the future: A nation seceding from humanity,’ on Thursday, in Lagos. He urged President Buhari to take help from the international communities even if it “means the UN (United Nations) establishing a unit in the country”. Soyinka maintained that Nigeria is ‘overqualified’ for international help and “should stop hiding under false pride or national integrity.”…

Covid-19 tests at airports: ‘Stop treating Nigerians like criminals, illegal immigrants’, Soyinka charges FG

October 30, 2021October 30, 2021 Aminu Imam

Nigeria’s Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has charged the Federal Government on the need to quickly address the inhuman ways returning Nigerians are being treated by the nation’s immigration and the Ministry of Health, to avoid further loss of faith in the country. Soyinka made the appeal on Thursday, at a media briefing while sharing his harrowing experience and those of other Nigerians that returned to the country via France recently. According to Soyinka, Nigerians are being made to pass through unpleasant experiences at airports around the globe due to…

“Nigeria in a mess” – Wole Soyinka

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 Aminu Imam

…Calls for Sovereign National Conference‘ Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lamented that Nigeria is in a mess and disintegrating, as he reiterated calls for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference to tackle the multiplicity of problems facing the country. Soyinka spoke at a news conference held at Freedom Park in Lagos with the theme: ‘Covid, Technology and Citizens banishment’, yesterday. He made the assertions against the backdrop of the political crisis and killings in Anambra as well as threats by proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra,…

“Nigerians docility responsible for thriving impunity in country” – Wole Soyinka

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 Aminu Imam

…As Utomi, others lament spate of impunity Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday said that the docility of Nigerians was responsible for the impunity among the political class. This is as other renowned activists lamented that Nigeria and indeed the African countries reward corrupt leaders with re-election. They spoke at the 24th edition of the Wole Soyinka Lecture Series, organised by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), which was held via Zoom, with the theme: ‘National Conference Against Impunity‘. In his remarks, Prof. Soyinka said every Nigerian should take responsibility for…

‘Why Nigeria can’t remain together’ – Wole Soyinka

July 25, 2021July 25, 2021 Aminu Imam

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has again said that there is no hope of Nigeria continuing together as one nation if the Federal Government fails to do the needful. According to the playwright, Nigeria cannot continue as one country unless it is decentralised as a matter of urgency. Asked during an interview on a television programme if he thinks that Nigeria can continue as one, Soyinka said, “Not if it continues this way. Not if it fails to decentralise. Some people use the word restructure, some people use the word…whatever. Not…