Soyinka: Many parents of success New Telegraph.Jul 12, 2014 The popular adage that success has many parents while failure has neither brother nor sister holds particularly true for Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka. As many groups and individuals fall over themselves to host events to commemorate his birthday anniversary which due this weekend, others plot how to derive maximum political mileage from the birthday anniversary of the literary icon which began last weekend with the fifth edition of the Literary Prize instituted by the Nobel Laureate who has invariably become a citizen of the world. But for Dr. Jerry Bassey, a consultant gynaecologist with the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, UNILAG, being associated with the world-acclaimed literary icon, especially as a son-in-law, is a denoument of a most special kind. According to Bassey, being Prof. Soyinka’s son-law remains the best achievement of his life, apart from his educational and professional accomplishments. ‘To the best of my knowledge, the best achievement of my life, apart from my professional accomplishments, is being the sonin- law of such a great man. Of course, I love my wife, Soyinka’s daughter, dearly and will not compromise her for anything but being Prof Soyinka’s son-in-law gives me a special kick’, he told New Telegraph at the Civic Centre venue of the Fifth Edition of Soyinka Prize for Literary Excellence in Lagos. The event was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. that Saturday. But although it did not begin on schedule, the turn-out of dignitaries who graced the occasion compensated, adequately, for the slight delay, in addition to the sensational departure from the archetypal starchiness of the orchestra genre which the famous Steve Rhodes Orchestra brought to bear on the rain-soaked occasion. And for this sensational performance, the orchestra attracted unusual attention and applause. The first tribute to by rendered at the occasion was delivered by Mr Kamarudeen Shonibare, Head of Corporate Sales of Globacom Telecommunications Ltd, who represented Chief Mike Adenuga. He described the literary icon as a huge inspiration to millions across the globe; a teacher par excellence; a role model and a social activist. According to him, literature is a potent tool for promoting greatness. According to him, the premium telecommunications service provider identifies with this universal aspiration. Lyrical legal scholar, Prof Akin Oyebode, who said people now prefer stomach infrastructure to knowledge, revealed how Soyinka ‘has been my role model since secondary school. I acted in one of his rave plays, ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’ in secondary school,’ he said. Recalling a particular incident t York University, Canada during a visit by the literary icon, Oyebode recalled that the point was adequately made, there in Canada, that it takes a writer to unmask another. Beaming his intellectual searchlight on the prevailing socio-political rot in the country, the UNILAG don traced the genesis of the scourge to ‘the years of the locust, military rule, which, he said, accentuated the prevailing socio-political crisis in the country. According to him, this unseemly political alchemy which the military forced down the throat of Nigerians served as a prelude to what he described as the present political charade in the country. Regarding the on-going national conference which is veering into its twilight, Oyebode described the elaborate political show as lacking in operational framework which could have underpinned its legitimacy. All the same, the university don reasoned, because a drastic situation demands a drastic remedy, it was better late than never to reform the ‘clearly-outdated and expired’ constition which he said was imposed on the country by ‘self-centred, self-opinionated and leadership. ’It is the worst tragedy that can happen to any country’, the respected don said, adding that a people united could never be defeated. The factional chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, and Rivers State Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, sauntered into the hall much later into the event and created a mild distraction which was masterminded by press photographers. He was soon followed by former private secretary to late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and pulp fiction poet, Mr Odia Ofeimun who quickly gravitated towards his friends in the media. According to Amaechi, ‘I never thought I would wear glasses until doctors warned that I could only ignore their advice at my own peril. Also, I never thought I would encounter Soyinka in person. I am so excited to read this address to him personally,’ the embattled governor said, visibly excited by the opportunity provided by the occasion in honour of the fast-greying literary icon. Amaechi sent his listeners reeling with laughter when he confessed that it was a great challenge to him, as to several others, unraveling the meaning of Soyinka’s literary works. According to him, the central line in all these works has always been to warn against the dire consequences of man’s inhumanity to man. ‘The man died in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny. Soyinka’s struggles transcend ethnicity and race. Hiss life is a testimony of the possibilities of the human spirit,’ the governor told the audience and urged the Nobel Laureate to invite on one of his famous hunting expeditions.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 07:33:02 +0000
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