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Group Calls For Boycott Of Wole Soyinka’s Books Following His Outburst

By Oke Odunmorayo

12 April 2023   |   6:00 am

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Several organizations have urged Nigerians to boycott Wole Soyinka's books and events, accusing him of betraying their trust. The Free Nigeria Movement and other civil society groups criticized the Nobel Prize-winning playwright for his recent remarks on the 2023 General Election and related issues, which sparked controversy. National Coordinator of National Democratic Coalition for the…

Wole Soyinka – University of Oxford

Several organizations have urged Nigerians to boycott Wole Soyinka’s books and events, accusing him of betraying their trust.

The Free Nigeria Movement and other civil society groups criticized the Nobel Prize-winning playwright for his recent remarks on the 2023 General Election and related issues, which sparked controversy.

National Coordinator of National Democratic Coalition for the Survival of Nigeria, Dr. Moses Paul’s organisation has called for a total boycott of all of Wole Soyinka’s books, alleging that he is out of touch with the country’s sentiments and has betrayed the trust of Nigerians.

According to the group, while Nigerians, particularly the youth, were protesting for justice regarding the outcome of the 2023 elections, Soyinka, who has previously championed a better society, quickly switched sides to support the oppressors of the people and the rule of law.

Mr Soyinka described the LP (Labour Party) vice presidential candidate’s comments and those of the “Obidients” as “fascist”, and said his utterances were a threat to the judiciary and therefore not acceptable.

Moses commented that the Nobel Prize winner had forgotten that the youths who had long looked up to him as a role model were the ones who experienced the most intimidation during the elections.

“The Nigerian youth represents the most exploited demographic in Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu’s illegal behaviour,” he stated. He toiled with your confidence in the integrity of the democratic process and your dependence on it.

Despite knowing he would close it as soon as the elections were over, he made you see a glimmer of hope at the end of a gloomy tunnel.

“The recent remarks by Prof. Wole Soyinka are disappointing and terrible. We object to his comments, but not because of any of the persons, political parties, or movements mentioned; instead, we object to his emotionless diversion from the election’s core problems to engage in what appears to be a selective witch-hunt.

He argued that the group’s criticism of Soyinka was not based on his political affiliation but rather on his failure to stand up for the people, especially during a time when all individuals of conscience were needed to liberate Nigeria from its unyielding oppressors.

It is worth noting that Wole Soyinka never spoke out against the heinous acts of racial profiling, incitement, and hate speech perpetrated by individuals such as Musiliu Akinsanya (also known as MC Oluomo), Bayo Ononuga, Femi Fani-Kayode, and others.