Apologies to Professor Wole Soyinka

[Ikhide]

I salute the Cable for tendering an unreserved apology to Professor Wole Soyinka over remarks attributed to him. As one of those who shared the story and rushed to judgement regarding the piece, I hereby tender my own unreserved apologies to Professor Soyinka and regret any part my actions contributed to the pain and anguish he suffered. Given the quality of journalism in Nigeria, I should have been more circumspect. I was not, and I am sorry.

http://www.thecable.ng/thecable-apologises-soyinka-igbo-story

- Ikhide

[Salimonu Kadiri]

Thank you for the apology. The watercress floats above the water;  water-lily surmounts the river, and Wole Soyinka has surmounted his foes. 
 

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[Abolaji Adekeye]

This is commendable from Pa Ikhide. For those who don't know , he is
a twitter celebrity and he is known by that inagije. (An aside: he
blocked me on twitter because I questioned some ladies about their
almost slavish worship of the very mortal Ikhide Ikheloa).

This is a very teachable event and I salute his humility in
acknowledging what I believe is an honest mistake no doubt provoked by
the jarring Ethnic jingoism that rings unmuffled in most Nigerians.

Awo v Zik, WS v CA. South East v South West.

As far as "me dey consign", no African poet tastes as sweet on the
mind as Christopher Okigbo.

I pray that " Anna at the knobs of the panel oblong" can sate our need
for regional heroes, so that we can appreciate our heroes dead and
alive..

On 5/6/15, 'Ikhide' via USA Africa Dialogue Series

[Ibukunolu A Babajide]

A worthless apology of no weight or moment.

Cheers.

IBK

[Segun Ogungbemi]

A lesson to learn from this is that you should tarry before making any judgment until the facts are established.
To apologize is not the issue but the misinformation that has been circulated. It is better to have indubitable facts before spreading information of hate and ethnicity.

Prof. Segun Ogungbemi

[Michael Afolayan]

Ikhide: You are my hero! You earn my respect more than ever before. It takes a decent man to accept his error and move on. Thanks for teaching us a lesson in humility! It is a rare commodity around here. Let the "Holy" sit on the throne of foolery and beat his chest. Questi finti eroi lo stolto nella sua follia!

Michael O. Afolayan

From the Land of Lincoln

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[Ikhide]

Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. I don't remember our altercation; I rarely ever #BLOCK anyone. You must have really ticked me off, or one the ladies (dem plenty!) asked me to #BLOCK you, lol. I am happy to reinstate you if you share your Twitter handle.

Be well, man.

- Ikhide

[Ayo Obe]

Lol, there speaks the true heir of Papa Lolo!

The reality is that there are some people who - if they made the kind of statement attributed to Wole Soyinka - one would not question the reports.  If a Femi Fani-Kayode or Doyin Okupe had been reported as having made some such comment, we would have said that it was fully in their character as we know it, and proceeded from there.  In the case of Prof. Soyinka, the remarks are not in his character as we know it, hence most were either silent, awaiting further confirmation or some context, or preceded their reactions with "IF Soyinka said that, then ...", or even "I can't/don't want to believe that Soyinka said that, but if he did, then ..."

That said, and with all due respect to the intemperance of the words in which Soyinka denounced the reports, I have read enough on this very forum for me to accept that one must expect to be surprised (and disappointed) at the tribalistic sentiments that can be not only harboured, but openly expressed by some of our leading intellectuals in the name of politics.  So one might - with hindsight - slap one's forehead and say "How foolish I was to believe it for a second", but actually, that is only what one's later knowledge allows, just as Soyinka's (no doubt justified) annoyance based on his existing knowledge allows him his "moron" and "moronic".

Two other points: I yield to none in my admiration and respect for Professor Soyinka, but he is just as capable of error as the next man.  So if he says something that is wrong, it is not lèse-majesté to challenge it: one is entitled to play the ball, whoever the man.  Second, there is a level of rivalry, disdain and even latent hatred between our Yoruba and Igbo thinkers (especially, if I may say, our thinkers who spend most of their time away from Nigeria) that is unhealthy, distressing, and that needs laying to rest.  If Soyinka is right in discerning a particular trouble-maker behind this specific story, it may be that the goal was to make him the target.  But the goal could also have been to stir up fresh trouble between Igbo and Yoruba.  The next time someone blows a dog-whistle in the hope that we will come running, we might be better advised to think on that.

Ayo

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @naijama

[Ikhide]

Thanks for the kind words, Michael, much appreciated.

- Ikhide

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[Mobolaji Aluko]

Ayo:

I totally agree with your sentiments below.  

If people were to "publish" our minds in the newspapers - about persons (close and distant) and peoples - or our sleep-talk, then most of us would be in trouble.  If those un-published "things" slip into our lips, either through anger, or drunkeness, or expectation of "off-the-record", that is when we get into serious trouble.  Most opinions are best left unspoken - that is restraint and wisdom.  What cannot be excused is writing those things down - that is pre-meditated "murder" of one's pristine reputation - as Achebe learnt late, in my mind!

We shall see.

And there you have it,

Bolaji Aluko

[Anunoby, Ogugua]

“What cannot be excused is writing those things down - that is pre-meditated "murder" of one's pristine reputation - as Achebe learnt late, in my mind”?

 

ba

 

Why bring Achebe ( I presume Chinua Achebe) into what for some has become a puerile conversation? Soyinka was gravely misrepresented. Soyinka called attention to the misrepresentation. He denied the claim. His misrepresenters have formally apologized. Case should be closed. Soyinka must be well aware of the recourse options open to him, if he would not accept the apology.

Again why bring Achebe into this conversation? What did the great, very contemplative man “learn late”? Did he not have the right to free speech that even intemperate critics enjoy?

It is good practice to not allow emotional suppositions assume the status of facts or reality. This causes some to take cheap shots that usually neither advance nor enrich intelligent conversations? Cheap shot should be avoided by the prudent. They have a tendency to mislead or ricochet.  

 

oa

[Mobolaji Aluko]

OA:

I smile heartily.....

In the Nigerian firmament of literature giants - and in forums that involve so-called Yoruba and Igbo intellectuals - or more accurately, intellectuals of Yoruba and Igbo parentage -  Soyinka and Achebe are twins born of different Yoruba and Igbo parents.

Yep...that is why I brought Prof. Chinua Achebe in....to add spice to our discussions here.

And there you have my explanation.  It was NOT a cheap shot.

Let us move on,

Bolaji Aluko