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Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She - Politics - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She (1579 Views)

See The Salvo That Sank Apc At The Supreme Court. / "Obasanjo Is A Shameless, Lies Telling Egomaniac" - Wole Soyinka Fires Back / Akwa Ibom State Pdp Elders Throw Salvo At Gov Akpabio (2) (3) (4)

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Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by seun4peace2015(m): 5:50pm On Jul 23, 2013
Despite his seeming old age at 79, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka, still believes he has the strength to stand up to those he perceives to use their public office to oppress others in Nigeria.

He was speaking on the backdrop of his recent public spat with President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

And though the afternoon open-door lecture series tagged “WS79 – Memoirs of Our Future: An Audience with Prof. Wole Soyinka,” was supposed to be a commemoration of his birthday, the renowned thespian quickly delved into familiar terrain as he touched on the subject of the First Lady, her alleged interference in the affairs of Rivers State and abuse of power.

While fielding questions from a member of the audience at the event which held at the African Centre in Covent Garden, London on Saturday, Prof. Soyinka said he was not afraid to call the First Lady to order and also enlighten her if she cannot take a cue from how first ladies in other climes behave.

“People said I call her a domestic appendage, what’s the problem with that? What’s the problem with Madam Shepopotamus?”

Shedding more light on the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, Soyinka revealed: “What happened in Rivers began long ago, before five decided that five was greater than 27. If we don’t move in support of the truth at certain mathematics, we shouldn’t be surprised if the next mathematics anomaly takes place at our doorstep.”

He added: “We move when there’s interference, when all roads are closed – for hours – because she’s going to her hairdresser.”

He warned that if members of the civil society remain indifferent to the abuse of office perpetrated by the president’s wife in states where she has visited, then Nigerians should not be surprised when a curfew is imposed the next time she is visiting their state.

The Nobel Laureate called on Mrs. Jonathan to borrow a leaf from Michelle, President Barack Obama’s wife, stating: “We ask unelected people to look around and see how the Mrs. Michelle Obamas of the world are conducting themselves,” adding, however, that if the Dames of this world do not learn, “we must educate them.”

Responding to a question if he was a friend of the embattled governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Soyinka replied: “That Amaechi is my friend is not an allegation,” because he would be friends with anyone who has been given the mandate of the people through the electoral process.

He stressed that he would not shy away from identifying with public office holders if they are fulfilling their obligations and responsibilities of governance.

“To say the Governor of Rivers is my close friend is like saying Kayode Fayemi or Dr. Babangida Aliyu or Governor Ibikunle Amosun or even the Second Republic Governor, Mohammed Shugaba, in Shagari’s administration, is my friend”, he stated.

However, Prof. Soyinka made it clear that “it’s not a matter of friendship,” but defence of democracy and truth, noting that he would not be afraid to switch loyalty if the people he once praised change their ways and start oppressing the same people who elected them.

Source: http://247nigerianewsupdate.com/soyinka-fires-another-salvo-at-the-first-lady-says-if-she-refuses-to-learn-she-must-be-educated/

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by ShobayoEmma(m): 6:03pm On Jul 23, 2013
being a professor does not earn one being a wiseman. i fear if the man possesses the two

1 Like

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by kingbang: 6:05pm On Jul 23, 2013
Intelligence and wisdom are quite different. Its obvious the MOP lacks the former.

1 Like

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Tolexander: 6:08pm On Jul 23, 2013
“People said I call her a domestic
appendage, what’s the problem
with that? What’s the problem
with Madam Shepopotamus?”

imagine the word below,
He warned that if members of
the civil society remain
indifferent to the abuse of office
perpetrated by the president’s
wife in states where she has
visited, then Nigerians should not
be surprised when a curfew is
imposed the next time she is
visiting their state.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by KwoiZabo(m): 6:32pm On Jul 23, 2013
Job 32:9 Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Nobody: 7:24pm On Jul 23, 2013
A man of importance who talks too much soon loses his relevance. -Idnoble135
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by ebamma3: 7:24pm On Jul 23, 2013
kingbang: Intelligence and wisdom are quite different. Its obvious the MOP lacks the former.
and with thy wisdom young man what have thou achieved?

2 Likes

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by ebamma3: 7:27pm On Jul 23, 2013
Shobayo Emma: being a professor does not earn one being a wiseman. i fear if the man possesses the two
what is thy definition of wisdom young man, so now standing on the side of truth equates to lack of wisdom abi

2 Likes

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Nobody: 10:31pm On Jul 23, 2013
See as PEJ pose like say she dey do advert for magi or other kitchen spices.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Nobody: 10:37pm On Jul 23, 2013
Wole Soyinka is abusing another man's wife. There should be limit to everything. There is nothing constructive about his criticism of the first lady. He is just barking like a man whom the first lady refused to peck his cheek.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by comradeoscar(m): 11:20pm On Jul 23, 2013
:oHa Prof! "Shepopotamus" u cd nt hv captured her beter. Pls do not kip mute wen its needful 2 talk. Remember, "d man died in him who speak not in d face of tyrany ad opression". :oHa Prof! "Shepopotamus" u cd nt hv captured her beter. Pls do not kip mute wen its needful 2 talk. Remember, "d man died in him who speak not in d face of tyrany ad opression".

2 Likes

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by datChelseaBoy: 12:45am On Jul 24, 2013
This man again? Mtcheeew!!!
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by sweettease(f): 6:03am On Jul 24, 2013
Make dis two people rest for this matter now, the exchange of words obviously isn't improving anything yet they choose to behave like two teenage rival girls quarrelling over a boyfriend.

2 Likes

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by thaoriginator: 7:37am On Jul 24, 2013
With all due respect... She deserve every abuses she gets. Ride on The Professor!
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Nobody: 8:45am On Jul 24, 2013
tha_originator: With all due respect... She deserve every abuses she gets. Ride on The Professor!
U be 100% akpamu

1 Like

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Willy4Willy: 9:13am On Jul 24, 2013
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDD OOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDD PPPPPPPRRRRRRROOOOOOOFFFFFFFF, by Gumi Abacha
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by Nobody: 9:49am On Jul 24, 2013
WS should allow the woman to mourn her mother, enough with all this rubbiiish.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by oclem911: 9:55am On Jul 24, 2013
I DONT LIKE NAME CALLING. LET SOYINKA STOP THIS MACABAR DANCE
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by FrankC3: 10:05am On Jul 24, 2013
Is it not time that sane members of the society call this man to order? What exactly will make a man to exchange words with someone else's wife? Even teens know that ladies are not to be scorned or quarrelled with.
The woman in question has only dignified him with a single reply, not even directly but through a spokesman, yet Soyinka keep talking. Even when the woman is bereaved of her own 'domestic appendage' mother, i guess it makes sense for WS to stop.
Great mean prove their greatness by the way they treat the people they consider themselves to be better than. That is why Dangote and Gates give to charity from the abundance of what they have, not argue with them for being lazy which some of them truly are.
Between WS and Madam, who is the woman here

1 Like

Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by drizzypat: 11:01am On Jul 24, 2013
No matter what u do,u should learn to respect d 1st lady no matter who u are,weather u win nobel award or charity peace award or ur even world best writer,always try and have some level of respect,na johnathan dey keep quiet,dat guy for don enter convict like 2 times.who says anything about obama wife ,mk we see,f**k democracy,do whats ryt
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by mrking3(m): 11:04am On Jul 24, 2013
Some of us in here are just too sentimental and parochial to issues! Wether we like it or not, †ђξ Truth is bitter but must be told without minding whose ox is gored!! Soyinka has said it exactly †ђξ way it is!! And I respect him for speaking out for †ђξ voiceless!! How can an unelected house wife weigh so much power than †ђξ President of this country? †ђξ last time she was in Lagos, †ђξ whole city was under locked with gridlock simply because †ђξ first lady was around! This can't be said of Mitchell as Prof rightly opined! She should take a cue from her counterparts all over †ђξ world and learn !! She should stop embarrassing herself further!!
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by samyan12: 11:12am On Jul 24, 2013
if she truly blocked all the roads in rivers like she did one time she was in lagos, then she deserves to be insulted.I dont get how Nigerians think, we should be grateful at least somebody is speaking up against this abuse of power.Instead people are turning around to blame Soyinka.We have been used time and again for years by this politicians, and yet we worship and respect them for stealing our money and ruining our country for us and our children to come.I hear excuses like she's somebody's wife, what has that got to do with anything? Is being married an excuse to act like an ass? I now firmly believe that we have exactly the kind of leaders we deserve, and except we re-orientate ourselves, this country is only going to keep going down the drain.
Re: Soyinka Fires Another Salvo At The First Lady, Says If She Refuses To Learn, She by ibietela2(m): 11:28am On Jul 24, 2013
mr_king: Some of us in here are just too sentimental and parochial to issues! Wether we like it or not, †ђξ Truth is bitter but must be told without minding whose ox is gored!! Soyinka has said it exactly †ђξ way it is!! And I respect him for speaking out for †ђξ voiceless!! How can an unelected house wife weigh so much power than †ђξ President of this country? †ђξ last time she was in Lagos, †ђξ whole city was under locked with gridlock simply because †ђξ first lady was around! This can't be said of Mitchell as Prof rightly opined! She should take a cue from her counterparts all over †ђξ world and learn !! She should stop embarrassing herself further!!

How secure is nigeria to the US??

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