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Wole Soyinka: The Man Who Lives Against Oppression at 90

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2024

Eric

By Lekan Alabi

No doubt, Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka is a big elephant in a forest of hope to generations of men and women across the globe. The part of the elephant you touch depends on what he stands for and against in a social political setting. To the pre-colonial generation, Soyinka “was anti-elitism and anti-colonial mentality,” with a deliberate message against a cultural reorientation and indoctrination that lazy minds largely tag as cultism. To the post-colonial generation, Soyinka was a torn in the flesh of pseudo-democratic rulers, military dictators and their civilian collaborators. To the generation of the apartheid regimes, Soyinka deployed all his God-given gifts against these regimes that socialised and related to others on the basis of skin colour. The whole essence of Soyinka, right from the Ake era till date is justice and humanity.

In celebrating Soyinka at 90, it will not serve any useful purpose to regurgitate Soyinka’s odyssey, which has been over-flogged in books, seminars, plays, music, lectures, symposia and literary criticism by cultural activists, policy makers, scholars and students alike.

“The Mystery Gunman,” through his roles in history, particularly in the political turmoil of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, in the First Republic, which resulted in Operation Wetie that enveloped the West, displayed an uncommon courage against the fascistic tendency of the political class. The singular act of demystification of the instrument of state, created young agitators against the election riggings and riggers, political violence and repression.

It is historically correct to state that Soyinka is a man of conscience who sees humanity as one without a toga of ethnic colouration. This position was noticeable during the Nigerian Civil War. While some revered scholars became megaphones of the war, Soyinka took to the path of humanity and decency by rigorously campaigning against the war mongers on both sides, which led to his incarceration by the military junta. Of course, the unusual life threatening but noble venture encouraged his followers of the possibility of another force/movement which mobilised against the war.

It is not a hyperbole to call Soyinka the Pride of Africa, as he has been leading from the front against the abuse of power, military dictatorships and ‘sit tightism’ of African rulers, alongside human rights abuses, and the struggle against racial discriminations in some African countries. This service to humanity has led to generations of the old and young, who look up to him as their role model.

It is important to state that Soyinka was the arrowhead of the struggle against the liquidation of the military dictatorship in Nigeria. He took the de-annulment of the 12 June 1993 election to the global limelight, with all the risks involved. No wonder that Henry Louis Gates, jnr. says that, “If the spirit of African democracy has a voice and a face, they belong to Wole Soyinka.” I couldn’t agree more.

His scholarly exploits in literature was crowned in 1986 when he became the first African Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The significance of this award was an upsurge of youths and young persons in Nigeria who developed the love for literature, human rights activism and the campaign for an open society.

The institutionalisation of the essence of Wole Soyinka is the best way to appreciate his sacrifice for a just cause on earth. It is highly commendable to note that the promoters of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, among other public-spirited organisations taking on the identity of the man of all seasons, are paying the debt on our behalf.

At 90, the son of “Wild Christian” stands tall, fit as a fiddle, and lives the life of a colossal crusader against oppression in any part of the world.

Lekan Alabi is a legal practitioner and consultant.

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Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

16 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

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Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

21 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

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DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

23 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.