Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Monday, vowed to hold a private funeral on January 20, 2017, the day the United States President-elect, Donald Trump, will be sworn in, threatening to also move his foundation out of the country in protest against unwarranted commentaries generated by the Green card issue.
He had, last week, in Johannesburg, South Africa, told the world that he had destroyed his Green Card to protest the election of Donald Trump in the last U.S presidential election.
A visibly angry Soyinka, who spoke in Lagos about the controversy that arose over his threat to destroy his American Green Card, following the election of Mr. Trump, said the private wake will have nothing to do with U.S. politics but the death of common sense among Nigerians.
“I’m going to hold a private wake on inauguration day not to mourn the decision of Americans in the choice of President but to mourn the death of Nigeria common sense,” he said.
He said the commentaries generated, especially on social media, by his threat to destroy his Green Card might force him to “Wolexit.”
“Wolexit” is a term coined by the literary icon after the “Brexit” referendum in the United Kingdom.
Soyinka, who had earlier used the term to describe his decision to quit the U.S, however, said he had not decided the nature the “Wolexit” might take as it could either be internal (which would see him withdrawing to his Abeokuta sanctuary (Ijegba), external, or mixed.
Describing the whole controversy as a “theatre of the absurd,” Soyinka said he was puzzled that it was something even worth the fuss it generated.
“I hope to leave here today with a little knowledge. I’m puzzled and I don’t know what the fuss is all about.
“Why do you wail more than the bereaved? I’m addressing these illiterates who feel they want to make themselves heard,’’ he said.
He said destroying his Green Card was not the first time he had undertaken such gesture to express his reservation over certain issues, narrating how he destroyed his national medal during a protest at the Race Course (also known as Tafawa Balewa Square) in Lagos during a protest he undertook with late Tai Solarin.
He said: “I took out my national honour medal and I stamped on it. I could have done something else but I would be accused of indecent exposure.
“Trump is not really my problem. What really matters is the rhetoric that got him there especially against Nigerians.
“People react in their own ways and I don’t go fighting them for it. Expression is not only by words but it (is) also by actions.
‘’When I take such actions, I don’t want people on behalf of whom we took these actions to express themselves in vulgar manner.’’
He described as “slugs”, “millipedes”, “imbeciles”, “Barbarians, and “blabbermouths” Nigerians who made comments criticising his decision to destroy his Green card.
“Barbarians are taking the opportunity of the anonymity of the internet to take over the country.
“What is the business of any stupid Nigerian to open his or her mouth to challenge my right? Did you get the Green Card for me?
‘’The arrogance of Nigerians is overwhelming. Where does this arrogance come from? What right do they have to tell me that I have no right to take a decision in a particular way?
‘’What right do they have? Who are you giving orders? I didn’t take orders from Sani Abacha, what right do they have to give me order?” Soyinka asked.
He said he had decided to move the Soyinka foundation residency out of Nigeria as a response to the “unwarranted” commentaries generated by the Green Card issue.
“I’m embarrassed that I’m occupying the same nation space with these imbeciles. You have to deal with power and have to deal with those who have to deal with power. Nigerians should realise how ridiculous they make themselves.
‘’The Nigerian personal is gaining notoriety all over the world. That is why Trump latched on the existing narrative.
“You want to see evidence? I will put it on Ogun shrine because I live on Ogun principles.
Something has to give. There will be certain actions I might take or refuse to take as a result of this.
‘’There has to be a significant event on my side in response to the obscene and unwarranted attacks.
“I’m going to move the residency of my foundation out of the country. I have already started it. It is my property. I am moving my foundation out of Nigeria,” he said.
Prof Wole Soyinka sir you hav contributed immensely to the growth an development of Nigeria in various ways. Is it at this ‘beautiful age’ of yours that you will allow the few ‘inconsequential egg heads’ to determine your action?
Sure you have absolute right to your personal heart desires but please your foundation was laid in Nigeria for Nigerians. May you not spoil the recognition, respect and honor accorded your person through your God given achievements.
We say No, Otio, Mba, E yee to Wolexit.