President Bola Tinubu has looked back at the dark days of military rule in Nigeria and acknowledged the pivotal roles played by Professor Wole Soyinka, a Noble Laureate who turns 90 tomorrow, July 13.
In a message congratulating the library giant of the world, President Tinubu said: “today, I join the world to celebrate his profound influence on generations of writers, scholars, and activists who have been inspired by his work.
“I celebrate him for giving us the spark to fight and confront military dictators in our country.”
President Tinubu described Professor Wole Soyinka as Nigeria’s literary colossus and global icon.
Giving his full name as “Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka,” Tinubu acknowledged that the Professor is a globally celebrated playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, actor, singer, composer, and documentarian.
“He is also a foremost advocate of good governance and of a fair and just society.
“He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986 – the first African to win the Prize in that category.
“The Nobel Prize Laureate is a recipient of many other reputable awards, such as the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature; Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award; Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, (Lifetime Achievement); and the Europe Theatre Prize – (Special Prize).”
President Tinubu stressed that Professor Soyinka is one of the finest minds of his generation; conforming to the highest standards of human enlightenment, but unyielding to injustice, oppression and base impulses.
He emphasized that the Professor is also one of Nigeria’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage, even as he commends him for his valiant efforts in the trenches for the nation’s future both as a pro-democracy champion and as a trenchant voice against corruption and maladministration over several decades.
“Our paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election. When faced with a trial in absentia and death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanized opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO. His global stature made him the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria.”
Tinubu went on to rename and dedicate the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos to The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.
He wishes Professor Soyinka many more years in good health and creative fulfilment as a global force for change.