Lagos — The Presidency yesterday reacted angrily to the outburst of the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka on the scheduled visit of American President Barack Obama to Ghana describing it as embarrassing and undiplomatic.
Special Adviser to President Umaru Yar Adua on Foreign Affairs, Amba-ssador Jibrin Chinade said Soyinka's statement, "which he is entitled to, is most unfortunate and un-diplomatic because he chose the wrong venue and ended up embarrassing the Italian Ambassador who had invited him for an art exhibition."
The Nobel Laureate had told THISDAY on Thursday at an Art Exhibition at the Italian Embassy, Abuja that Obama's decision to visit Ghana ahead of Nigeria in his first trip to Africa was a wise decision.
He went further to say that "If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone him. The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious, is so brilliant that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria any time soon,",he said.
In his response to the argument over Nigeria's downward spiral status in the international community as a result of recent events such as the failure to be invited to the G20 Summit, and now buttressed by Obama's choice of Ghana as, "our (US) most important country in Africa," Soyinka said that Nigeria has not had any status in the first place.
Chinade said: "It's most unfortunate that a prominent citizen like Soyinka seized the opportunity of a diplomatic invitation to attack his country.
"I have read all his books including the most current one, for somebody to speak at an art exhibition to say nothing else than to denigrate himself and his country that has done a lot for him is most unfortunate and highly embarrassing' He said that Soyinka has by that outburst embarrassed his host, the Italian Ambassador.
"In my 35 years of diplomatic life, when Ambassador invites somebody he keeps to the topic' The diplomat said that Soyinka is entitled to his view but noted that his quarrel is with the venue stressing out that the statement must have embarrassed the Ambassador. He said that Nigeria has no problem at all with Obama visiting Ghana because Ghana is not only a friendly country but also a member of ECOWAS. Which country to visit and when is entirely the prerogative of a country and Nigeria has no problem whatsoever with whom Obama visits and when, we cannot predetermine it, Ambassador Chinade said.
The Presidential Adviser said that if things were based on how some Nigerians see it Obama could have visited Kenya where he has biological link before any of the 53 countries of Africa .
When asked if the country's electoral problem could have influenced Obama's choice of Ghana before Nigeria, Ambassador Chinade said that our electoral system has problem and is not in dispute and President Yar Adua himself recognises this fact hence the setting up of the electoral reform panel and the sending of reform bills to the National Assembly. 'If the President did not see it as a problem he would not have started the reform process'
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Soyinka often speaks as if he still has any clout anywhere in the world he makes me laugh, sometimes. I lost respect for this Ambulance Chaser when he urged the Bush Administration to invade Nigeria because of what he considered to be former President Obasanjos 3rd Term Agenda even though, we are the ones that pleaded for the dynamic leader to reconsider his decision not to run. A year ago, Mr. Soyinka gladly accepted the OleFRN award from the lazy, visionless, Emperor Yar when more honorable leaders like Gani Fawehinmi refused to sell their soul for a mess of porridge. So, whose side is Soyinka, nowadays? The New York Times described Wole best, about 3 years ago, when the paper rightfully observed that Wole Soyinka could never find a leader he agrees with (even though he has never led more than his own household or the Nigerian highway patrol). The Afro-toting fiction-writer is too engrossed with his high-falutin self, obviously. By the way, who cares where President Obama goes to in Africa? God must be coming down from heaven the way most Nigerian were lamenting their woes for not having him come here. Let Mr. Obama go wherever he likes, that will not change the situation on the ground anywhere. May God Bless America just as much as God Blesses Nigeria alike.
kaparah,
Well said. Kongi is under the illusion that he is still relevant.
Prof Soyinka is right and should be commended for speaking out against these imbeciles in government in Abuja. Nigeria is a failed state. Everything abt the country is negative. There is serious political instability and looming anachy that will soon explode in a way that will see the country doom. The people in government seem not to see this because of their corrupt behaviour. There is confusion everywhere, majority of the people are suffering. Prices of food commodity have gone up exponentially. Living conditions have deteriorated. Many people can't afford to eat good meals and starvation is the norm of the day. The president has failed the people with his policies and has promoted corruption in all aspect of his governance. Meanwhile, the Ghanaians are developing their country. The recent presidential election should serve as a lesson the government of nigeria should emulate. For economic development of any country, there must political stability. And this is why Ghana is fast growing today and more recognised internationally. Nigerian passport to the eyes of many international community is a mess and plague that should be repudiated. I applaud President Obama decision to make Ghana his first destination when he visits africa and implore the loud mouth sychophants in Abuja to shot their trap and look critically at the way this country is moving.
Whatever Wole Soyinka says is his prerogative. While I do not agree with most of his opinions, I respect the man's viewpoint on this particular issue, we as Nigerians must recognize the message being sent to us as a prospectively great country that has practically everything that is needed to be one of the top 10 economies in the world; but for the moral, fairness, fear-of- God, reckless, inconsiderate, greedy, unconscionable people that practice the politics of do or die just for them to have access to the wealth of this country to enrich themselves. The so-called leadership strata of the country lack empathy. Just holding elections in a country of brilliant and intellectuals like no other country in Africa has been impossible. It simply shows the rest of the world how disingenuous a people we are. It is people like the author of this write-up that has continuously encouraged the kind of atrocities that are being perpetrated on the helpless Nigerians by the political class who rigged elections. If this Nigerian man does not see the reason why Professor Soyinka reacted the way he did, like many right thinking Nigerians who care for the future generations of Nigerians, then this man has a major problem of being heartless with little or no conscience. I presume he must be a beneficiary of the thievery that is prevalent amongst the political class in the National Assembly, State assemblies, and Local Government Area Councils across the country, not to talk of the mass embezzlements and misappropriation of public funds by State Executives. If we think the different embassies in the country do not know what obtains, to advice their home countries, think again. Nigeria is a blemish to Africa and to the Black race. Are we that shameless not to understand why the rest of the world treat us like lepers or we are just hell bent on being in denial at the expense of our progeny and justice and equity? Please leave President YarAdua alone, he is not as evil-spirited and unconscionable as most of the self acclaimed leaders in this country of plenty where its people are deprived of decent livelihood. He is a God fearing man who is unfortunate to have associated with the so called PDP under a demonic, evil-spirited, vindictive and mindless leadership.
The Presidency guys should cover their face in shame for attacking or reacting too negatively against Professor Soyinka for declearing the open truth.
If Obama had choosen to come to Nigeria, I would have organised Two Million March against him.
We were all in this Country, when some patrotic citizens in their esteem wisdom organised a dinner to raise fund for Obama 2008. What happened there after, they became EFCC guests.
Can anybody tell me that, Obama was not aware of the gang up against his candidacy by that act by the Presidency? On what moral justification should Obama now plan a visit to Nigeria, more so, when such a visit will be seen in International Community as a way of saying thank you to Nigeria.
Diplomatically, it is better to remain silence than make inflamatory comments that can expose one's shame. The outside world sees the Presidency more than they see themself. The attack on Professor Soyinka is very shameful. The Nigerian Presidency is laced around by Sycophants and Hungry Politicians who know nothing, but how to grab and drain the Treasury.
Samuel Adegboyega Abuja.
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