Soyinka as Okonkwo in “Things Fall Apart”

Val. Obienyem

Prof. Wole Soyinka is a distinguished Nigerian whose contributions to literature and politics are globally recognized. However, despite his achievements, he sometimes fails to heed that each profession, especially in his writings, has the moral obligation to be understood or keep quiet.

I read Soyinka's comments about Mr. Peter Obi with a heavy heart, troubled by the magnitude of his errors. How can somebody say Obi was not qualified to contest the Presidency? Anyone in Nigeria who does not understand or pretends not to understand that the Obidient movement is a spontaneous response to the country's problems is out of touch with reality. With the prevailing situation in the country, more of similar movements will surely emerge. Who is happy with Nigeria as it presently is? It is a sort of we-they group, made up of the oppressed and oppressors. Obidients are the oppressed Nigerians, which we thought Soyinka would have sealed his activism by identifying with.

During the lead-up to the 2023 Presidential election, Soyinka criticized Obi’s running mate, Sen. Yusuf Datti, and proposed a debate with him or any designated representative. In response, some of us arranged for Prof. Okey Ikechukwu to serve as the delegate for that purpose. Our rationale was straightforward: Ikechukwu, renowned for his civil discourse, would convey the essential points without resorting to provocative language. Even when his statements deliver a decisive impact(Knock-out-blow), they do not leave behind a trail of hostility.

This scenario reminded me of a symposium during my seminary days. We invited the elderly Mr. Sylvester Udunni to deliver the keynote address. Our teachers, led by Mr. Collins Okeke (now a priest), were eager to challenge him with their fresh philosophical insights, being newly minted from philosophical studies and eager to showcase their erudition. However, after Mr. Udunni finished his paper, he excused himself and left before any discussion began. The philosophical pundits were left with Mr. Borbert Oguegbu (Wasky of Nollywood) to spar with. We thoroughly enjoyed the lively debate and applauded the arguments like sturdy blows at the Olympics. However, Ikechukwu is a seasoned speaker and would take on anyone, however acclaimed, in an intellectual joust.

When we presented our debate plans to Mr. Obi, he laughed and asked if Prof. Okey Ikechukwu was aware of the arrangement. Misunderstanding his concern, I assured him that contacting Ikechukwu would not be a problem. Obi then expressed doubt that Ikechukwu would accept the debate under such circumstances.

Obi calmly explained, “Val, if your father called you stupid and challenged you to a debate, would you accept? It is highly disrespectful to debate Soyinka—not only because of his societal achievements but also because of his age.”

Obi's remarks about Soyinka were insightful, reflecting his reverence for both the man and old age. Having met with Soyinka several times, Soyinka should have a good understanding of his character by now. If Soyinka opposes people like Obi becoming president, it implies he believes the position should remain in the hands of brigands.

Part of the reason Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, who called him father, was his fear of appearing cowardly. Why is Soyinka so determined to undermine Obi?

It is so unfortunate how things are done in this part of the world.When sound minds critisizes and pinpoints some irregularities on how these incompetent bunch are running this government,some ill-fed and slavish individuals whom are paid peanuts to be online day and night,will tag you an Obidient or IPOB. The effect is that every criticism is now seen from the prism of tribe and reason why Nigeria is constantly and consistently going down the drain.Respected characters like Wole Soyinka is even now becoming clannish....the question is 'who will bail the cat'？i fear for the future of this country,with a generation of tribalistic idi*ots.
The 'high-way of corruption',was quickly awarded without due delligence and process,this is an indication that there is more to it than the eye sees...posterity will be the judge.We have been long enough in Nigeria to tell when politicians are upto no good.

Goodvibes007:

Rinu, Mr macaroni, falz, Hundeyin e.t.c.

you forgot MC Olumo the chief security officer

I have my reservations with such a building event of this magnitude being held in Lagos,where the tyrannical,nepotistic and myopic governor that represents nothing but destruction,a man whom stands as the biggest obstacle to private investment on properties in Lagos.No reasonable modern property investor would want to invest his hard earn money in an environment of uncertainties and inconsistent policies. More like the reason TotalEnergies gave as why they choose huge investment in Angola over Nigeria.
Anyway,thanks to the idi*tic Sanwolu, more states in the southeast and south-south are now besieged by lots of huge property investors whom left Lagos,including others from the diaspora community are now doing the needful.His bitter timidity is now benefiting other states,God surely do work in a mysterious way.

Guys for real,Anambra is in a class of its own...Peter Obi's template must be replicated nationwide,a new Nigeria is possible.

Sannisege:
Give me Soludo over Peter Obi any day anytime.

By the time his given to you as a presidential candidate,you and your tribes men will tag him an IPOB member...keep your love.Yeye dey smell！

Audio ratings！

helinues:


Na how many local government staff go now remain in the state when 200+ already got fired for possessing fake certificates? How many are yet to be detected?

Na miracle exams centres we dey talk before, fake certificates don follow join.

Toh

If such an excercise is honestly carried out in the South West of Nigeria,about 85% of the work force will be affected.This is the region 'Oluwole' certificate originated from. When in the good old days when they rest of Nigeria was practicing meritocracy,they Yorubas had since invented 'Oluwole certificate',

We appreciate your sacrifices and we know that you died for a nation that hardly appreciates true sacrifices but the labour of our heros past shall never be in vain....may you never hand over a flag that is stained in blood to the coming generation.I salute your courage ！It takes audacity to be a soldier,when others are playing with their wives and girl friends,you are in the jungle.While others are rumming,you are dodging bullets and some are bitten by reptiles.When others are sleeping,you watch over the city gates.When politicians are looting the treasury and embarking on expensive holidays,you are taken as a prisoner of war...in all this,you hardly retreats nor surrenders,just for the love of your nation.Once more,I salute your courage.

...just what if we have a body that conducts a dope test for politicians before ascending to the seat of presidency,do you think that certain characters could have been the president today？Your guess is as good as mine.

rantingpigs:


Did you not see how Makinde dealt with Yoruba nation agitators without waiting for the Federal Government? Do you not see how Amotekun fish out bandits and kidnappers more effectively than the Nigerian Police Force? Abi mo paro?

Answer: Fulani Herdsmen killed Three OBAs and also kidnapped and killed people recently, in that same Ibadan .Where are the amutekun brigade ? Where is Sunday IGBOHO? Why is he not in Prison like Nnamdi KANU. That alone shows that Yoruba Agitation is a big JOKE.

Yoruba Nation Agitators are a performed skit directed by the same APC loyalist that want to threaten the North. What has happened to those that were captured? Imagine Army seeing them, hearing the gunshots and not killing them? Nobody is foolish as you. What a joker.

And that is why what is happening in Rivers State can never occur in the Southwest, and what we see in Anambra, Abia, and Imo is unheard of among the Yoruba. The Ganduje-Kwankwaso struggle is almost impossible in the Southwest


Answer: Seyi Makinde fought with Amosun. Oyetola is still fighting with Adeleke. The Governor of KWARA is still fighting Saraki. In OGUN the citizens themselves are fighting Dapo Abiodun. In ONDO there is internal strife everywhere. Lagos, is calm because they all united against their fear of IGBO economic and property domination.

Now I ask this worthless guy. What is so special about the region?

All I know is that the insectiri inbuilt in the DNA of a worthless loser like RENO is pathetic. That is why Bayo Onanuga will never allow you be a spokesman for the most useless Government in the history of that useless entrapment.

What happened to FREE LEAH Shuaibu? You don tire abi,? After you use the girl cash out...

Nonsense and worthless Reno. The man that insulted TINUBU the most , but is now looking for recognition from those he insulted. Truly RENO is a certified dunce.

RONU.

Bruv ,you are too intelligent to respond to that nitwit nobody Reno...but you gave him a savage response.I doff my cap for you.

So this is how Yoruba's lost illorin to the Gambari's.....losing ones native land is the worst thing that can happen to any people.
My heart bleeds！

WorldRichest:


Yet, 95% of Anambra indegenes are slaving in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Abuja, Kano and Rivers states. Stop deceiving yourself.

You may need your dictionary to know the difference between lording over your land and slaving.😜😜
Meanwhile congrats to Coscharis

gidgiddy:
My fellow Igbos, there's a saying that "Onye Ajulu adighi aju onwe ya". It's is about two weeks to the 30th of May. I enjoin all of you to observe 30th May in remembrance of our war dead. Those who fought or died in the war foresaw that the British colonial system of oppression and injustice known as Nigeria would never work, but only go from bad to worse. Time has since proved them right.


Remember those we lost in our noble quest for freedom, honour them, and say a prayer for souls.

Chukwu dube anyi

bruv i will...'the blood of the innocent waters the trees of freedom'.

...'the tragedy of a nation'.

favor914:
sadiqbabasani knows better, even with Gringory’s 99% support in Eastern Nigeria last election, he still fell short.

You need not go far,mention Tinubu in the North and i can assure you that you must be on a suicide mission,when his wack economic policies has wrecked,impoverish and strangulated whatever is left of the people.In a dying economy your serial looting brother is borrowing and embarking on elephant projects with the sole aim of looting as usual.'Edo No be Lagos',if you know u know.

NOC1:
On Saturday night, I was at a Kenyan in-house party in Canada 🇨🇦; I was the only Nigerian at that party, so I was talking to this intelligent Kenyan girl; she was like, why am I seeing a calm Nigerian for the first time, she said you guys have a very negative image in our country.
I asked her to explain, and she said, you guys kill our girls, dupe us, and intimidate us in our country. She said I like you, but I don't trust Nigerian men, I said even in Canada? She said yes.
When I was speaking with a Sudanese at the party, she said the same thing; when I said I am a Nigerian, she said nooo and ran away. Lol
Naija, we need reorientation.

Sorry to rain on your parade！It seems you go around toasting girls in canada,you should be busy with your set out goals and even if you must,there are thousands of beautiful Nigerian girls and others in canada.When Eastern Africans are doing everything to woo Nigerian men,in your case they are running away from you.Your looks though can be a put off.

Ofunaofu:


Why are you always triggered and agitated whenever you hear anything Igbo? 

Dont you know that inferiority complex is a big challenge.

Why washing your dirty linen in the public.I know that Eziowelle community in the past have always been peaceful and has produced great people like Cardinal Arinze,Prof Mbanefo et al. I can deduce that the ASATU president Barr Akpado seems not to be on a peaceful mission,how come he is trying so much to draw enemity between a section of the community and Gov. Chukwuma Soludo,which inversely can make the governor to ignore the community in his developmental programs,going by how Nigerian politicians thinks.
Why also will the ASATU president insist on a self-made draconian rule that will disenfrancise some of the branches during the PGs election.Except he is not yet ready for peace because you can only ignore your most strategic Union branches at your own peril.I know the people of Eziowelle are so much in there numbers in Lagos,Onitsha and Abuja and for the sake of peace every branch must be allowed to participate fully regardless of what may have happened in the past or else the court will be the dwelling place of the community.This may result to autonomous communities springing up from the same town.
Peace is very cheap and every sane mind that truly loves his or her community must strive for it.A people divided against itself will never rise. There are examples of some communities in Anambra that can hardly stay together as one and an example is Ummunachi community and they are very close to Eziowelle community,pls learn from there mistakes.

alanto:
The same Hope Uzodinma Owerri? Same Uzodinma y'all love to hate? Na WA o

He remains a total failure but Owerri have always been a tourist destination of choice in Nigeria,very lovely city.

All hail 'conan the destroyer'...useless and unproductive govt.

More sane minds are coming out to speak against this 'high way of fraud'....to proof we all appreciate South-South and their contribution to the development of this nation,why not Tinubu pls start this fraudulent project from the calabar axis,we all know this is all about Lagos and their personal interest.

Fake'Ohaneze Youth council worldwide' paid by the enemies of Ndigbo to indirectly run down a fellow Igboman who happens to be the chief of naval staff.A man that has been posting unprecedented results since he became the naval chief and they cabals behind oil bunkering are no longer comfortable with the way the naval chief has 'put cog in the wheel',of their operation.

Could'nt they equally have asked for the removal of the police chief or chief of army staff because kidnapping and banditary is still the order of the day,since they so much care about Nigeria.

'the tragedy of a nation'！

These Tinubu online janitors are doing everything possible to impose this outright fraudulent project on Nigerians!No amount of hyping and paid propaganda will convince any sensible Nigerian that this project at this time is worth it.Thanks to Peter Obi and more thanks to Atiku Abubakar whom just exposed the fact that this whole project is based on gross corruption and self aggrandizement,it is now in the open that Sheyi Tinubu is on the board of Chaugoury's conglomerate and which happens to be handling this 'highway of fraud',the contract was quickly awarded without due process and without environment assessment impart.Everything about the project is shrouded in secrecy,more like the mafia era system of operation. We know our common patrimony is about to be looted by a few cabals and yet some 'slaves that loves their chains,are paid to defend this modern day robbinhood operation.

RIP Daniel！

They would rather spend billions on propaganda than put in genuine efforts in tackling the debilitating problems of our society. They criminal gang at the helm of affairs in this nation, is only kin at sharing the common patrimony of this country.
Wait till the online'slaves that loves their chains',will come to their defence....its a pity,a certain section of youths in this country are victims of darkness.

....'the tragedy of a nation'.

Olachase:
I laughed at Ur stupidity when I saw this Ur statement, (Yourba Federal govt) which school did you attend? Define the word Federal govt


It's not you guys fault I blame MTN that dashed you guys 10MB daily

The last time i checked,i didn't attend any school but the fact remains that the nepotistic and tribalistic govt operated by your serial looting brother and drug Lord will not and cannot succeed on vengeance and malicious acts against other ethnic groups that didnt support his stolen mandate,an average Nigerian is fully aware of the evil game being played and you lots think your Propaganda will cover up for his depressive acts...common,at the end,posterity will judge.

Kenochi:
Let me speak from my experience as a practitioner and a professional in this field
I said in an earlier thread that all Ocean Coastline in Nigeria belong to the Federal Government and they are the only entity that can issue titles in that regards,I am not capping but I was taught this in my University Undergrads days
I have challenged Landmark to seek legal redress because this is a very huge investment and we need to settle this matter of who really owns the Ocean Coastline once and for all

I also challenged Landmark to publish his documents to the general public and also for everyone involved to openly produce all certified drawings and plans of both the old abd new coastal roads

Sometimes it is better to keep quiet before you get all the facts

If you have nothing to say,just keep quiet.They pay you lots to stay online and say rubbish,hard working Nigerians whom made their money through manifold struggle and relentless efforts,comes up with an initiative that employs the youths and contributes to the betterment of the nation through their investment,wakes up one morning,only for one saddist never-do-well political leader to come up with an ill-conceived project and destroys an investment of so many years.Presently it is now a norm in this govt to target certain peoples investment for destruction because they didn't support their stolen mandate.
We saw Sanwolu's selective destruction and they ones he couldn't do,he employed the might of the federal govt and we also observed they demonic agenda perpetrated in Abuja using the power drunk tyrant, Wike.

...but when they killer herdsmen cum bandits are killed either in self-defence or retaliatory attacks by indigenous communities,you lots come out in defence of them.You use the media and your contacts to play the victims card and cry more than they bereaved.Political and religious leaders from every ethnic group must stand in truth and ensure that criminals amoung its people must be identified and the law must be applied accordingly...hence there can not be peace without Justice.

Dont be surprise that the Yoruba federal govt will come up with a policy to ground this wonderful initiative by an Igboman and especially now that Maesk company has exposed their lies of having a 600million dollars deal agreement with Nigeria.Also bearing in mind that investments that doesn't favour Lagos is now officially a national security threat.
The same govt wants to expend trillions to build a coastal road when most of the old roads are in total disrepair and even if you must build it and with honest intentions,why not start the project from the calabar axis because we know that as soon as the Lagos southwest axis is completed, the rest will be abandoned as usual and resurrected for campaigns close to electoral year and then ends up being abandoned.