The Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Monday condemned a viral video on social media showing members of the Pyrates Confraternity during a procession, chanting a song to ridicule the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Tinubu
Penpushing reports that, Soyinka in a statement said he was frankly appalled at the lyrics of the song, which he said he finds distasteful, pointing that he belong to a culture where person should not be mock on physical afflictions or disabilities.
“I belong to a culture where we do not mock physical afflictions or disabilities. Very much the contrary. The Yoruba religion indeed designate a deity, Obatala, as the divine protector of the afflicted, no matter the nature of such affliction. This sensibility is engrained in us from childhood and remains with us all our lives. It operates on the principle of mortal frailty to which all humanity remains vulnerable”, Soyinka said
“Like any other civic group, the Pyrates Confraternity is entitled to its freedom of expression, individual y or collectively. So also, is Wole Soyinka in his own person.I do not interfere in, nor do I attempt to dictate the partisan political choices of the Confraternity. I remain unaware that the association ever engages in a collective statement of sponsorship or repudiation of any candidate. This is clearly a new and bizarre development, fraught with unpredictable consequences.”
“I do not interfere in, nor do I attempt to dictate the partisan political choices of the Confraternity. I remain unaware that the association ever engages in a collective statement of sponsorship or repudiation of any candidate. This is clearly a new and bizarre development, fraught with unpredictable consequences”, he added
Penpushing further reports that, it is recalled that, in the video, the Pyrates’ members, who are marking the 70th anniversary of the group this year, donned their traditional red and white attire, were seen singing about a presidential candidate whose “hands and feet are shaking, yet he is saying ‘it is my turn.’”
The song was in reference to Tinubu’s public outburst last June in Abeokuta, before the Presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) where he told members of his party that it was his turn to be president of Nigeria
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