 Published
January, 20th, 20010
I begin to wonder when
Professor Wole Soyinka, ‘Kongi’ will stop fighting his
imaginary enemies. Oga , I think It is time to stop. You and
some educated ones like you have been drumming the sounds of
war for so long. Many of your followers have lost their
lives; some have been maimed because you do not know when to
stop. It may interest you to know that many people do not
know what you say; what you write about and what you intend
to achieve. Some of us who understand you want you to
channel your energies to productive ends. This is because
some of those who listen or read your works, do not
understand two words of what you say or write. Remember how
in the days of Nnamdi Azikiwe every one wanted to hear his
big, big English? Many Nigerian youths just want to read the
headlines. Nigerian youths have come to believe that the
likes of Professor Wole Soyinka and others are always right
because the white man recognizes them as our spokesmen. They
feared his literary powers of Wole Soyika and Chinua Achebe
they made them heroes; just as they made Zik of Africa a
leader at a time when they needed some one to champion their
interest. Remember “Danda” the play written by Ikem Nwankwo.
Danda was the first to ride a motor car into his village,
but did the motor car provide food for his people? The car
only made him the most famous man in the village. Think of
the number of Nigerian youths who lost their lives during
the Abiola struggle. How many of them understood the
political jargon of “I am out to claim my Mandate” by Abiola.
These youths have been made to believe they will not be shot
at or killed because they were sold the European ‘template’
of Civil Disobedience. How many of those who called the
youths to Civil Disobedience during the military regime are
dead today. Most of them ran to America and other foreign
countries leaving the youths they called out for civil
disobedience to face bullets. Very often they blame the
police and the military for killing innocent people. What do
they expect the police and military to do? Sit down and wait
for a mob to kill them? This is Africa where we leave the
body of the unknown to rot on the streets. How many of the
youths who lost their lives were honored in burial like some
of these “democrazy” activists? It is time parents start
asking their wards not to listen to all these political
calls that could lead to violence. Those who enticed Abdul
Murtalab to bombing America in the name of AlQaeda also
started by such calls. There should be better ways to press a
point especially during a civilian regime.
We elected some people to represent us in Government; are we
no longer convinced these people can fight for us? Who
elected or who is trying to rig the likes of Wole Soyinka
and others to the leadership position, which empowers him to
people out on a civil disobedience campaign? If he can do it
and get away with it what stops any other Nigerian? People
like Professor Wole Soyinka continue to write and forget
delving into Politics which he is unwilling to invest in but
too willing to critisize.
We blame the fanatics who believe they must destroy those
who do not believe. How are we better? We call our youths to
do our dirty works for us? I want to believe that a
political script has been written to destabilize this
country’s march to freedom and attempts are being made to
use people the youths see as roll models to achieve this. I
will ask to youths of this country to be careful . If
Professor Wole Soyinka feels he has a point to make, let him
stage the usual “One man demonstration” he was famous for in
the early days. After all Wole Soyinka has become the
proverbial bone tied to the neck of the dog. He can not be
shot down or manhandled. I am also sure he will not be
caught breaking or looting shops like some youths do when
called out to demonstrate. If we must shun violence we must
evolve the Nigerian ‘template’ for demonstration. Please
let’s remove the scales from our eyes. A one man Show will
do the job with out damage.
Femi Robinson.
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