Nigeria’s sovereignty is negotiable – Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lent his voice to the growing calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, saying the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable.

Speaking during a visit to PUNCH Place, the corporate headquarters of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 14, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Soyinka said decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.

The laureate said it was wrong for previous administrations in the country to say that Nigeria’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, submitting that the position was antithetical to development.

Soyinka added, “I am on the side of those who say we must do everything to avoid disintegration. That language I understand. I don’t understand (ex-President Olusegun) Obasanjo’s language. I don’t understand (President Muhammadu) Buhari’s language and all their predecessors, saying the sovereignty of this nation is non-negotiable. It’s bloody well negotiable and we had better negotiate it. We better negotiate it, not even at meetings, not at conferences, but everyday in our conduct towards one another.

Ese Oruru: Until Nigeria makes an example of people like Senator Yerima, there 'll be thousands of Yinusa- Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka and human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana have criticized individuals masking Ese Oruru's abduction with religion, adding that the perpetrator should be prosecuted so the victim could get justice.

Both men spoke during a joint press conference titled 'Justice At Bay: The Long, Twisted Road to Ese' held on Sunday, March 6, in Lagos. 

"Culture is not static; it is dynamic and evolves. It is humanity. Ther is no culture without human beings. If you say you are religious, there are others who could come to say they are holier than you are. We should take religion out of Ese's abduction. We are talking about criminality. Nobody should say people are Islamaphobic. We are only against criminality. Who invokes religion in criminal matters? Who brings religion into issues of government and constitution? If you want to bring religion into a criminal matter, then let us talk about other things. When we are talking about crime, don't diffuse it with religion." Soyinka stated.

"Jonathan Was Held Hostage While In Office" - Wale Soyinka

Nobel Laureate and renowned Nigerian writer, Wole Soyinka, has said former President Goodluck Jonathan was caged by some powerful forces while in power and therefore, was not aware of some of the things going on around him.

Soyinka made the statement while giving an interview to  Zero Tolerance magazine. In a damning assessment of Jonathan’s tenure, Soyinka said that the former president did not know that the nation had been compromised so badly under him until he, Soyinka, brought some issues to his notice.

When asked if the former president was caged, Soyinka said: “Correct. There were forces around Jonathan, which he himself did not understand and that is why I stressed that you’ve got to choose 

your circles of advisers very carefully, when you are in charge. He was caged; things were going on that he did not know about.”

Read the full interview with Wale Soyinka for yourself and see what he had to say about Jonathan's government amongst other things below:

Jonathan Paid People To Attack Me – Obasanjo

Barely one week, after he defended his choice of successor in 2007, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has pointedly accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of paying people to attack him.

Obasanjo, who also reflected on the despotic regime of the late maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha, stated that he would have been killed wrongly for the fathom coup.

Speaking on Channels Television programme, Channel Book Club last night, Obasanjo alleged that Jonathan paid people to attack him over his controversial book, “ My Watch”.

He claimed that Jonathan paid an activist from the South-West to criticise him.

'NNPC must die!' – Governor El-Rufai

“NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) must die!” were the stern words of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday in Abuja.

A visibly angry El-Rufai, while speaking on Monday at the 7th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series, lambasted the national oil firm, stressing that he was hopeful that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would kill the corporation.

The Kaduna State governor called for the setting up of another national oil firm as he argued that the present NNPC would kill Nigeria if it is allowed to continue running as the country’s oil firm.

“If you don’t kill NNPC, it kill Nigeria,” El-Rufai said.

Details to come…

Happy 81st birthday to Professor Wole Soyinka

Happy Birthday to the Nigerian Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka as He turned 

81 years old today July 13th. Wishing him many more years ahead with peace of mind 

and quality service to humanity. 

Anti-Rape Bill: You are very wrong - Senator Anyanwu tells Wole Soyinka

The senator who moved the motion for the recently passed 'Sexual Offences Bill' has responded to professor Wole Soyinka's open letter..The nobel laureate slammed the bill for legalizing sex with 11 year olds. The new bill stipulates life imprisonment for any individual found guilty of rape or sexual intercourse with children under 11 years..

In her response,senator Chris Anyawu writes...

I have read your open letter published in a number newspapers and online papers

No one who read that letter could miss the fury embedded in your words. I know where that fury comes from: moral fiber, good conscience, and love of people. I want to assure you that it was the very same sentiments that drove me to come up with that bill and the same sentiments that led Senators and members to pass it.