Kobojunkie:

Again, Soyinka made himself spokesperson on behalf of MEND. Cut around it whichever way you want, the fact is he decided to speak on their behalf, and history has that down on him. He essentially helped open the way for MEND to get the package( free trips abroad, free pocket money each year, free school abroad etc.) the group currently have.

Given your penchant for running around in circles, I'm going to say this once, go and read Knight1's post again. Kongi remains one of the most vocal critics and possibly good authority on Nigerian affairs. He has acted as mediator between the government and aggrieved persons from the days of 1st coup to Biafra, MEND mediation and leadership of SNC when everybody was under th yoke of Turai and the 'cabal'. Besides Gani, I don't know if anyone spoke against Obasanjo more than he did.

Cut it however you want, 150million depend on a single resource, those on whose land that resource is gotten feel cheated and took up arms, they chose him for his integrity and if I recall correctly, he didn't even do the mediation as he felt the inner workings of MEND had introduced terms that he'd rather not be part of and withdrew.

naijababe:

Given your penchant for running around in circles, I'm going to say this once, go and read Knight1's post again. Kongi remains one of the most vocal critics and possibly good authority on Nigerian affairs. He has acted as mediator between the government and aggrieved persons from the days of  1st coup to Biafra, MEND mediation and leadership of SNC when everybody was under th yoke of Turai and the 'cabal'. Besides Gani, I don't know if anyone spoke against Obasanjo more than he did.

Cut it however you want, 150million depend on a single resource, those on whose land that resource is gotten feel cheated and took up arms, they chose him for his integrity and if I recall correctly, he didn't even do the mediation as he felt the inner workings of MEND had introduced terms that he'd rather not be part of and withdrew.

I am not sure what the essence of your post here is or why it is directed at my person. I don't care if the person you call kongi is your god or your lord. I have made myself clear to this point. If you have something to add to any of the issues touched so far, I suggest you do it or move on please.

Kobojunkie:

I would not compare Gani with Soyinka. Soyinka has mostly seemed to me a man who speaks when he is on the hurt side of issues. I mean the man's cries seem to change from year to year. And I don't think I will ever forget that this same was the man who was spokesman, for a time, for MEND.

Gani was a lawyer who went to the court on behalf of the people, and Nigeria as a whole.  Soyinka, I may be wrong, seems more concerned about issues that pertain mostly to sects and groups, not Nigeria the country as a whole, in much of his ideas.

There is nothing absolutely nothing wrong with the way the constitution came to be. If we were to follow you claim that the Nigerian constitution was technically not drafted by the people's government, then what do we say of the American constitution, which was drafted by a couple of men, majority of them never really served in any government then and afterwards?
Please we need to stop playing around with the moronic and focus on that which should matter.

Honestly, if this man is all out of good ideas, he needs to stop!

Your post not mine, pay attention to the bolded, then go back and re-read my post

naijababe:

Your post not mine, pay attention to the bolded, then go back and re-read my post

you are still not making sense to me. I posted that because that is truly what I think of his many cries from year to year. Unlike Gani, I don't believe Soyinka really fights for the Nigerian cause. What is hard to understand in that statement? And how is any of that related to what you posted earlier?

Kobojunkie:

you are still not making sense to me. I posted that because that is truly what I think of his many cries from year to year. Unlike Gani, I don't believe Soyinka really fights for the Nigerian cause. What is hard to understand in that statement? And how is any of that related to what you posted earlier?

Really?

June 12, leadership of SNG, the planned million man march against Abacha that eventually led to his exile, Obasanjo's rigging of 2003 election? Are those sectional issues ?

naijababe:

Really?

June 12, leadership of SNG, the planned million man march against Abacha that eventually led to his exile, Obasanjo's rigging of 2003 election? Are those sectional issues ?

Bite me, but I don't. Anything else? jeeezzz!!!

Kobojunkie:

Am I the only one who feels this man should SHUT UP already!

Yep! Take your own advice and shut the Flip up.

Wole Soyinka has stayed pretty consistent in his agitation for equity and freedom on behalf of the people of this counrty. He carried a gun when he had to, but more importantly he has consistently used his talent and art to bring vital issues to the front while calling attention to the fundamental problems we have.

We need more of him not less.

@Kilode, if you are trying to respond to my post, my response is, I am fine with you having such confidence in the man. I just don't. It's been my opinion of him since, I believe the 1980's, and I am probably not going to change that anytime soon.

Gani I was able to read more clearly since his actions matched his words. This is a man who not only cried out in the wilderness but took his show to the courts. Soyinka  . . . . not so much for me.

The only valid constitution Nigeria has is 1963 constitution; current Nigeria is fraud.
I wonder what will happen went this impending constitutional crisis will erupt.

@kobojunkie, I was not trying to respond to your post. But maybe if you can be more specific about what you expect from Soyinka then I might have a better response for you.

But I'll try:

You referred to him not taking issues to the court, but he took this one to the court didn't he? I doubt this is his first time

Soyinka = a writer, so he's using his talent to address issues facing his people, country and community

The Great Gani Fawehinmi = a Lawyer, he did exactly the same with his talent and abilities.

Except I misunderstood your particular objection to his efforts, I fail to see your point.

Kilode?!:

@kobojunkie, I was not trying to respond to your post. But maybe if you can be more specific about what you expect from Soyinka then I might have a better response for you.

But I'll try:

You assume I need a lecture from you to know how I ought to feel about this Soyinka fellow? I think you should save your lectures for someone who really cares. I am not here to be schooled by anyone, not even you, on the 'right' way to think of anyone.

Kilode?!:

You referred to him not taking issues to the court, but he took this one to the court didn't he? I doubt this is his first time

Soyinka = a writer, so he's using his talent to address issues facing his people, country and community

The Great Gani Fawehinmi = a Lawyer, he did exactly the same with his talent and abilities.

Except I misunderstood your particular objection to his efforts, I fail to see your point.

I didn't refer to him not taking issues to court. I stated that action on Gani's part, made it easier for me to understand him, Gani, more.

Sorry, I don't remember any new books, or papers, written by Soyinka, even in the last 12 years, addressing any of the Nigerian issues. Most of the opinion pieces I have read, and assumed came from him, have left me scratching my head even more. 

Yes, Gani was a laywer, but I doubt that is the only reason why he took his issues to court really. I mean there are other so called leaders who are/were equally proactive. And I don't fault the non-proactive ones. I just find it easier to get them. . . even after they make mistakes . . . . if I can connect on some level to them, in Gani's case, it was through his actions.

I mean hey, he, Soyinka, is a known critic, and I am fine with that, but sometimes I feel it may be a good idea for him to just with the noise.

Back to the issue here, I think this suggestion by him is silly, and he is probably chasing after something else and not what many think he is.

Ok.

Ignorance is greatest amongst those inflated with half knowledge.They knoweth nowt but thinketh they know all. A tragedy twice over!

in a country where it is very easy to brandish the ecthnic card, soyinka has tried to always push for justise, even when his ethnic group seem to be the beneficiaries of an unjust system, he desrves very good kudos for this, back to the constitution, many elements are ok, but i still have major issues with handouts from the FG to states and governments deciding to run business, also peoples reps should be paid by the specific people they represent, each state to provide a minister?how about that? Upper and lower houses?? Is it really necessary? Can we afford it? Is the presidential system right for us? Seperate executives, legislatures and judiciary, is it really necessary or afordable? Shoul govt make money outside taxes? State and lg creation or disolution, whats the criteria, economic viability and ability to pay a minimum amount of taxes or pressure from ethnic groups jostling for a share of oil revenue? I have always stated that the corruption being experienced right now, it due to the perception of free oil money, centrally located belonging to everybody, hence nobody, remove the main actor and replace them, and we will end up with the same issues in a few years time, lets change the way we are structured, make people more accountable to the tax payer in a clear line of sight, life would be so much better

We are talking about a man who spent  2 years in prison for a visit to Biafra almost all that time was in solitary confinement. It is easy for idiots whose only care is for themselves to spout inanities from the security of their laptops.

He has sacrificed for his convictions as a young man and was indeed prepared to die without the usual "i am ready to die for nigeria" proclamations a la David Mark IBB and OBJ.
The man is 77 and still does more than most of those half his age whose only preoccupation is consumption and how to speak better Amerikin

Prof Soyinka and etc need to forget about Nigeria. It is a lost cause. There is a Yoruba world, a Yoruba sphere in West Africa, it is the sovereignty of that land that we should be fighting for even if we are unlikely to win but in the present world, we will win. There is a Yoruba sphere from Kogi West down to Warri, West to Eastern Ghana is a Yoruba West Africa. All speak Yoruba and claim Ife origin. The Yoruba language is new, the more ancient ones are Akoko, Ewe, Fon and etc. Forming that post colonial nation should be our focus. It is a noble objective. Our people should ask Hausas, Igbos and other Nigerians what they want, lets break Nigeria up peacefully! Enough of merry go rounding