• Say he is a shining star, summary of Nigeria’s tempestuous history
• At lecture series, don canvasses elite consensus in fixing project

Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, has described the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, as a rare breed whom any race would be proud of.

Fasoranti gave the commendation in his congratulatory message to commemorate the 92nd birthday of the first African to win the Nobel Award for Literature in 1986.

In the congratulatory message, Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, quoted Fasoranti as dubbing Soyinka as a pride to the Yoruba race, a pride of Nigeria, a pride of Africa, indeed, an individual whose positive impact defies ethnic or racial boundaries.

ALSO, human rights activist, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, described the life of Soyinka as a summary of Nigeria’s tempestuous history as he attains age 92.

Okei-Odumakin said Soyinka’s life manifested dedication to the ideals that generations of Nigerians had lived and strived for.

Meanwhile, a professor of Media History and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, Umaru Pate, has advocated elite consensus in changing the nation’s narratives.

Pate, while speaking during the 18th Wole Soyinka Media Lecture Series, themed “Beyond the ballot: Measuring Democracy through Security, Welfare, Accountability and Public Trust,’ held in Lagos yesterday, said the imperative of elite consensus and trust could not be over-emphasised.

“When there is no accountability, corruption flourishes, public resources are wasted, democracy weakens, and people become distrustful of the system.

“From governance to security, education and the media, the crisis of trust has become very challenging, hindering Nigeria’s unity and progress. So, truth is under attack,” he said.

He, therefore, suggested that the local council system must also be strengthened to tackle insecurity challenges.