Wole Soyinka At 90: Afenifere Leader Felicitates… Says He Is ‘Awokose Gidi’ And A positive Catalyst

The Leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, has described the Nobel Laureate, Professor Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka as a catalyst who precipitates things to happen.

Fasoranti stated this in a congratulatory message to the literary icon who turned 90 on Saturday, July 13th.

National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi quoted Pa Fasoranti as saying that Soyinka, in his activities and carriage, exudes the characteristics of a catalyst that makes things to happen.

“In Soyinka’s case, what he precipitates are things that would ennoble the people and positively project humanity further.”

According to Ajayi, Pa Fasoranti recounted numerous occasions when the literary scholar has interrogated the prevailing systems in the interest of the public.

“The actions of Professor Wole Soyinka in and outside the academics are always geared towards enhancing humanity. This, he always did by a way of calling the attention of those concerned to relevant issues. He was never shy of physically taking the lead – or be part of those who lead – in progressive agitations” Fasoranti said adding that “with these and some of his accomplishments, he is certainly one of those who are regarded in the pantheon as ‘Eni ti Ori sa da’ – the Special Breed!It is on record that the Abeokuta-born scholar has always been an activist right from his youthful, if not childhood, days. Instances are too numerous to be recounted here. But it is worth mentioning that he acted as a one-man squad in standing against what he considered as a rape on democracy in 1964. At different times, he took steps that were meant to right the wrongs on the political turf. One of such other occasions was during the late General Sani Abacha dictatorship days.

“Soyinka, along with many other patriots, made pronouncements and took steps that clearly put their lives in danger. Indeed, many patriots have to run for safety while some others paid the supreme price in what became known as NADECO/Abacha era. On this occasion and on several other occasions requiring genuine patriotic actions, Soyinka was not found wanting at all.

“In view of the foregoing, Professor Wole Soyinka is undoubtedly ‘Awokose-Gidi’, an exemplary individual par excellence” declared Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere Leader who is also Asiwaju of the Yorubas.

Fasoranti, himself a nonegenerian, recalled their days in the trenches as National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) activists and disclosed that ‘Soyinka gave a good account of himself during the struggles’.

The statement commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for naming a major street in Abuja after the Nobel Laureate last month and for naming the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos after the same man “to mark the 90th birthday of a man who has projected Yoruba ideas,Nigeria and Africa on the global plane. Afenifere is truly proud of him” the statement concluded.