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Nigeria: How Obasanjo Misled UNESCO Over Presidential Library - Soyinka
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Daily Champion (Lagos)
13 March 2008
Posted to the web 13 March 2008
Mansur Oladunjoye
Lagos
NOBEL laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday again took former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the cleaners, alleging that he lied on the true status of his library project in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The project, Prof. Soyinka said, is full of misconception and lies, even as he accused Chief Obasanjo of misinforming the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) about the initiative.
The former president, it would be recalled, launched over N7 billion library endowment fund, a development that then attracted a barrage of criticisms.
But speaking to newsmen at an event organised in Lagos by the Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo university Ile-Ife, Prof Soyinka specifically noted that the status of the library was erroneously presented to UNESCO as a centre for exhibition of African artifacts.
"The presentation was a misconception; the former president does not have interest in culture, and it will be wrong to showcase his library as a centre to exhibit African artifacts.
" There is no room for it. It does not exist. The man who named that library has no interest in culture. He takes pride in being uncultured. There is nothing, which links Olusegun Obasanjo with culture. What Obasanjo and his collaborators have been trying to do is to acquire this important collection of antiquities and put it in empty shelf and showcase it to the world as our cultural achievement. In other words, Obasanjo and his collaborators want to reap where they did not sow. In fact they have acted in a negative way. There is no promotion of culture that I'm aware of on the part of this library," Prof Soyinka said.
He further alleged that Chief Obasanjo had lied to UNESCO that Osun State is in Abeokuta, saying, "This is an insult to UNESCO, to try and present this library to UNESCO as a cultural centre is a lie. There is also the question of who brought the collections and who paid for it. Why are they trying to disgrace this nation like this with their blatant lies?"
The laureate however said he would not want to say much about the former president, adding, "I want OBJ to rest in peace. I'm not going to talk about Obasanjo today. I mean, I want him to be left alone. This man has left the office as president. I will like him to enjoy his retirement as long as he does not interfere in my cultural life."
On use of indigenous languages in the States Houses of Assembly, Prof Soyinka who threw his weight behind the exercise, described it as a good development that would aid further development of the country and the youth.
"We need a common language. I welcome the use of Yoruba and other languages in the proceedings of law making. It is a very good thing that it is gradually spreading across the nation and hopefully all over the continent. We need this language simply because of our colonial history. At the very least in a place where laws are being made, people should be able to talk to one another in a language of that particular environment. It is one of the ways of bringing people back to their origin, back to culture and their own identity," he stated.
Meanwhile Prof. Soyinka, has condemned the gradual erosion and replacement of rich cultural heritage in the country and Africa at large with foreign values dominated by "imported religions."
Prof. Soyinka blamed the erosion on Christianity and Islamic beliefs, citing that in China and Japan where there were strict adherences to religious beliefs, the indigenous cultures and traditions were still jealously guided.
"It is unfortunate that we are ignoring our traditions because of western interference, we are going down because of our mental backwardness. Look at Japan , China and others, they have their own culture and tradition that they protect and project." He wondered why some Nigerians have chosen to project other traditions whereas the originators of such tradition have their indigenous tradition that they still protect.
"We have a duty to let those our people who are backward in their thinking know that those they are copying have their own tradition," he added.
Also the Director, Institute of Cultural Services , OAU, Dr. Wale Adeniran, said the objective of this year's Ife International Festival is to ensure that the rich culture of the country does not remain mystified, but seen to be in harmony with contemporary realities.
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"To prevent a mindless sweeping away of our cultural heritage, a situation which can only result in disorderly change and societal instability and eventual creation of a people completely cut off from its cultural root." He said the 2008 festival, which will be held from April 8 to 13, has its theme "Mask, Masquerades and Marionettes".
The allegation credited to prof. Soyinka that Obasanjo lied to UNESCO that Oshun state is in Abeokuta is very difficult to swallow in that the head of UNESCO during Obasanjo's aministration was a Nigerian, Prof. Michael Omolewa. It would have been, in the limit, a stark impossibility for a Nigerian President to tell a Nigerian Professor that Oshun state is in Abeokuta. Is prof. Soyinka being constructive by making this allegation? Furthermore, if the vision of Obasanjo is to make the library a centre for exhibition for African artifact, should his lofty vision be criticised and condemned... [Read Full Text]
Prof Soyinka always seems to have the solution to all Nigeria's problems. He should sell his home in England, move to Ibadan or Lagos or Abuja, run for office and help build the country that he claims to "love" so much. I respect his achievements but he should help build Nigeria or leave those who are trying alone.
Thank you.
I want to know what Wole Shoyinka is all about.I hate to see educated Nigerian behaving like an illitrate. President Obasanjo did not lied to any one. He should be credited for what he has done for Nigeria and Africa. If what you are trying now to promote was then preached in one of your documents that landed you Nobel award, you will not be awarded. Wole Shoyinka you got it all wrong. Please fight for the progress of your country Nigeria. We are maturing slowly please grow up. and stop disturting facs and misleading people. We are all grown... [Read Full Text]
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