Wole Soyinka: This Man Must Not Die

By Olowogboyega Oyebade

Do you know that we have to rejoice with the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola over the huge fortunes that his administration is bequeathing  to the State, a State that will be Dollar-denominated very soon and mass of youths  will be gainfully employed?  Are you aware that on Thursday 16th July, 2020, President Buhari collected the first gold bar the artisans produced according to international standards, to mark the launch of the  Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI), a programme that was launched in 2019? Do you know that the 12.5kg gold bar which was bought by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) met the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) standard? Can you believe that by this initiative, the artisans will now find  direct buyers who will buy at the correct price under the National Gold Purchase Programme? According to the data from UN Comtrade, can you believe that between 2012 and 2018, 97 tonnes of gold worth over $3 billion were smuggled out of West Africa and the chunk of it came from Nigeria, particularly Kebbi and State of Osun? Do you know that the miners will now operate under safe environment and modern mining machines will be made available to them? Do you know that the artisans and small-scale miners, rural mining communities, registered buying centres, investors, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal and State Governments will benefit?  Can you believe that over 500,000 new mining and formalized jobs will be created by this initiative and already, over 20,000 miners have registered in  Kebbi and State of Osun? In order to minimize security breaches along the mining corridors, do you know that each artisanal miner nationwide will get national identity card?  Do you know that Thermo Fisher Scientific and Mettler Toledo Company is commissioned to install equipment to use in gold-testing and to weigh it? Do you know that this initiative is to operate in States which include: Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger and Osun although it is to first start with Kebbi (North West) and Osun (South West)? Can you now see that this is a thoroughfare to diversifying the economy of this State to reduce poverty?

Are you aware that there are some people in Nigeria who are known all over the world only by their first names? Do you know that they include: Fela (Fela Anikulapo Kuti), Wole (Wole Soyinka), Gani (Gani Fawehinmi, Olutoye (Professor Olitoye Ransome Kuti) Lambo (Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Kanu (Kanu Nwakwo)? Do you know that one of them, Wole Soyinka, born on 13th July 1934, turned 86 last week Monday? Do you know that the celebration of his 86th birthday anniversary became so remarkable owing to the fact that this Nigerian playwright, poet and essayist was awarded the  Nobel Prize in Literature  in 1986, the first sub-Saharan African to be honoured in that category and equally marking the pun of 86 by 86? Are you aware that he attended University College, Ibadan and the University of Leeds in England, a background that prepared him to take an active role in Nigeria’s intellectual and political history and its struggle for independence from Great Britain?  Can you believe that as a University lecturer and activist, in 1965, he seized the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service studio and broadcast a demand for the cancellation of the Western Nigeria Regional Elections, citing malpractices? Do you know that in 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War, he did not not support the carnage done to the people of Eastern Region nor believe that war was inevitable? For having this conscience, do you know that he was  arrested by General Yakubu Gowon and put in solitary confinement for two years? Can you believe that his prison notes form a whole novel today titled: “The Man Died”, a book epitomising the arrogance of power by our military class?

Do you know that Soyinka has been a strong critic of successive Nigerian governments and all African despots? Do you know that he led the NADECO struggles with other nationalists like Papa Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bola Ige, Papa Bisi Akande, General Alani Akinrinade, General Dan Suleiman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Adeyeye, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Comrade Kokori, Kunle Ajibade of “The News” magazine, Dr Beko Kuti and Gani Fawehinmi/Femi Falana/ Amitolu Shittu bloc to mention but a few? Do you know that the struggle provoked Abacha to place  a death sentence against him in absentia? Do you remember NADECO campaigns and Radio Kudirat, a struggle and radio that sent away the despots in military uniforms? Do you know that since 1999 till date, though not in power, this Soyinka, a Professor Emeritus of Comparative literature, has been the constant conscience of our collective morality, probity and accountability? Do you know that he is a rare signature to Yoruba race, Nigeria and Africa? Now that he is alive, very vibrant at 86, is it not apt now to honour him nationally and regionally before he flies away in the way of every mortal? Do you know that we are blessed more by his presence with us and still serving?  And to Professor Wole Soyinka, you wrote “The Man Died”. We now humbly say to you, sir,  that “You, this man must not die”. At 86 and beyond, may COVID-19 never stray to your door! Your specie is endangered! Stay safe!

Are you aware that the month of July is strategic to the image of the world? Do you remember that at exactly 5:29:45 seconds a.m. on 16th July, 1945, at Alamagordo, New Mexico in the United States, an immense ball of fire rose suddenly from the desert, greeted by sudden explosion, signaling the detonation of an atomic bomb, a bomb launched for the first time  to herald the era of nuclear war? Do you know that this bomb was put to use in  Hiroshima on 6th August and Nagasaki on 9th Aug., 1945? Do you know that this invention was followed by the science of biological and chemical armaments, the aftermath of which humanity is precariously prostrate before pandemic of COVID-19? As we mark the 75th anniversary of this mistake of self-destruct, do you know that the World Health Organization has predicted that things will get worse? You say how? Come along!

Are you aware of a shocking news? Do you know that on Monday 13th July, 2020, the World Health Organization warned that the new coronavirus pandemic raging around the globe will worsen if countries fail to adhere to strict healthcare precautions and that too many countries are headed in the wrong directions? Are you aware that apart from numerous death of Nigerians by COVID-19, it has almost changed everything in us in its regime of new normal, including  our court system? You want to know how? Come along, please.  The voice of WHO Tedros Ghebreyesus warns:

“Let me be blunt, too many countries are headed in the wrong direction, the virus remains public enemy number one. If basics are not followed, the only way this pandemic is going to go — it is going to get worse and worse and worse.”

Are you aware that the virus continues to rattle and task the intelligence of the developed countries to the level that they are now stealing intellectual property from themselves?  Have you heard the news? Do you know that on Thursday 16 July 2020, the National Cyber Security Centre of Britain accused Russia of launching a despicable operation to steal Britain’s coronavirus vaccine secrets in a State-sponsored cyber attack? Can you believe that both Oxford University and Imperial College London, the two British teams trying to develop a vaccine are targets, a claim that has been verified by the US and Canada,  hours after Russia announced its intention to produce 200 million doses of an “experimental” vaccine this year, fueling suspicions that it could have been successful in stealing information from one of the laboratories across the world? Can you now see that countries can act ‘Hushpuppi’, too, stealing and boasting on e-platforms? Do you know that the ‘new normal’ in our judicial system will require a compulsory amendment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended)? Can you see that the regime of COVID-19 has imposed on us inadvertently, another alteration of our Constitution?  Come along!

Have you heard the news that  Lagos State had in a suit marked SC/CV/260/2020, asked the Supreme Court to determine whether having regard to Section 36(1), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) use of technology by remote hearings of any kind, whether by Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Skype or any other audiovisual or video-conference platform by the Lagos State High Court or any other Courts in Nigeria in aid of hearing and determination of cases are constitutional?  Canvassing arguments for the State on Monday, 16th July, 2020, do you know that the State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, told the court that the suit raised a cause of action which is the interpretation of the Constitution as to whether the courts can accommodate virtual court proceedings and  further argued that the National Assembly does not have the powers to regulate the practice and procedure of courts as such powers are only donated to State Chief Judges? Do you know that the totality of his argument is that the case by his State was to prevent a situation where, after virtual sittings are conducted, they would be declared unconstitutional as it was the case in Orji Kalu’s case? Can you believe that the apex court  insisted that the suit was premature and speculative in nature and held further that there was no cause of action? Do you know that Justice Vivour said that it is after the National Assembly has passed its pending bill seeking to include virtual sitting in the Constitution can anybody challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of such enactment and whether it violates the powers of heads of courts to regulate proceedings? Do you know that a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour declared:

‘As at now, virtual sitting is not unconstitutional. Honourable Attorney-General , go and tell your Chief Judge to ask the judges to continue to sit virtually if it is convenient for them. Any judge refusing to sit should be taken to the National Judicial Council for necessary action. Somebody’s right must have been infringed, until and unless that has taken place, the action remains speculative. Please, let’s allow our laws to develop naturally. The developed countries you are referring us to did not arrive at where they are overnight.’

Are you aware that we are enough good news as we have a cause to rejoice as Jorge Masvidal lost to Kamaru Usman in a successful maiden ‘Fight Island’ event in Abu Dhabi, a city where ‘Hushpuppi’ showed that Nigerians are a  bunch of internet fraudsters just about a couple of days ago? Do you know that on 12th July, 2020  Jorge Masvidal in a  unanimous decision was defeated as Kamaru Usman defended his welterweight title at UFC 251? Who is this Usman? Are you aware that Kamarudeen Usman is a Nigerian American, born on 11th  May 11, 1987 in  Auchi in Edo State, Nigeria by a Nigerian Army Officer who emigrated to the United States when Kamaru was 8 years old? Do you know that Kamarudeen Usman was once a wrestler before changing to boxing, a star who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Welterweight Champion and as of 24th May, 2020, he is #6 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings? Shall we continue to celebrate the victory of Usman or raise up another locally trained Usman against the backdrop that Usman has changed his citizenship to that of the United States and his new trophy is counted for the United States, his home country?

Are you aware that wherever we are, we must move humanity close to civilization? Are you aware that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday 16th July, 2020,  in his message ahead of the 2020 Nelson Mandela International Day,  urged the world to draw lessons from Nelson Mandela’s story to free prisoners of conscience while marking the South Africa’s first black President Nelson Mandela sojourn in Robben Island Prison? Do you know that the Mandela Day is celebrated annually on 18th  July in honour of former South African President Nelson Mandela, a  day that coincides with his birthday, and was officially declared by the UN in November 2009 to mark Mandela’s 91st birthday with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010? Are you aware that the theme of the 2020  Mandela International Day is “Take action, inspire change”? Do you know that in 1943, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) party and became involved in anti-colonial struggles against the Apatheid regime, a system of racial segregation in South Africa? Do you know that he was arrested several times for seditious activities and in 1962, was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the State following the Rivonia Trial and was  behind the bar for 27 years? Do you know that he served as the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and used the position to promote peace among races? Do you know that Mandela Day is not meant to be a public holiday, but as a day to honour his legacy and his values through volunteering and community service? Do you know that it is on record that Nelson Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years and the campaign is requesting all of us to start to commit just 67 minutes to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity? Do you know that Guterres urged the world to fall back to the ideals exhibited by Mandela in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 13.5 million people and killed over 584,000? Guterres cuts in:

“We mark this day at a time when the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic endangers everyone, everywhere, and especially the most vulnerable. In the face of these challenges, world leaders need to recognize the vital importance of unity and solidarity. Madiba was a moral giant of the 20th century, whose timeless legacy continues to guide us today.”

Are you aware that the motto of Man ‘O’ War is: “Build the man, build the community”? Do you know that as part of our commitment to build our communities, we can elect to build capacity in management and networking to build growth-poles in Small and Medium Enterprises? Are you aware that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in most economies, particularly in developed and developing countries?  Have you read about Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)? Are you aware that on the first day of his retirement at the age of 65, he was disengaged with a cheque containing only $105, an amount that could not last him for a few weeks? Do you know that as he sat under a tree to write his will before committing suicide, he remembered that while in service, he was a good cook? Can you believe that it was then that he decided to start small by borrowing $87 against his cheque  to buy friers and chicken, hawked fried chicken from door to door at 65 years of age? Can you believe that at 88 years of age, the man who wanted to commit suicide at the age of 65, Colonel Sanders was celebrated a billionaire in Dollar term?  Can you now see that small scale business can be a mega-business?

According to the World Bank, do you know that they represent about 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide and that formal SMEs contribute up to 40% of national income (GDP) in emerging economies without reckoning with the contributions of the informal sector? According to the World Bank, do you know that 600 million jobs will be needed by 2030 to absorb the growing global workforce, which makes SME development a high priority for many governments around the world, including Nigeria?  Do you know that access to fund is key to insulate this sector from falling? Do you know that the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has threatened the fabric of this sector, no wonder the Central Bank of Nigeria has earmarked CBN’s N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) geared towards supporting SMEs and households whose economic activities have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic to promote employment? Do you know that this is the reason the economy needs more loans to calibrate? Do you know that the SMEs will be able to deliver on their mandates if only we tackle the issues around infrastructural facilities such as electricity, good road network, availability of potable water, and solid waste management, poor management and low entrepreneurial skill base and the harsh deteriorating macroeconomic environment? Do you know that all of us must enlist to reduce rising youth unemployment? You say: why?  Come along, please.

Are you aware that rising youth unemployment, which is one of the problems that the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola wants to tackle through the new initiative of artisanal mining, is one of the most significant problems facing different countries? Do you know that since 2017, there had been an upward trend in the number of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET)? Can you believe that in 2016 there were 259 million young people classified as NEET – a number that rose to an estimated 267 million in 2019, and is projected to continue climbing to around 273 million in 2021, rising by percentage from 21.7% in 2015 to 22.4% in 2020? Do you know that the on-going pandemic Covid-19 will rob the world of the international target to reduce the NEET rate by 2020? Do you know that the day was approved by the General Assembly in 2014, as an opportunity for young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and public and private sector stakeholders to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship?

Do you know that education and training are central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda as fully captured by Sustainable Development Goal 4 which states: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Do you know that Education 2030 devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for the vulnerable? Do you know that TVET is expected to address the multiple demands of an economic, social and environmental nature by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to green economies and environmental sustainability? Can you believe that TVET can equip youth with the skills required to access the world of work, develop  skills for self-employment, improve responsiveness to changing skill-demands by companies and communities, calibrate more productivity and increase wage levels? Do you know that TVET reduces barriers to work-based learning, and ensuring that skills gained are recognised and certified and access to education is given to low-skilled people who are underemployment or unemployed, out of school youth and individuals not in education, employment and training (NEETs)?

Do you know that the World Youth Skills Day 2020 took  place in a challenging context of COVID-19 pandemic resulting in lockdown measures that led to the worldwide closure of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, threatening the continuity of skills development?  Are you aware that it is estimated that nearly 70% of the world’s learners are affected by school closures across education levels currently, resulting in distance training  becoming  the most common way of imparting skills, with considerable difficulties regarding, among others, curricula adaptation, trainee and trainer preparedness, connectivity, or assessment and certification processes? Do you know that post-COVID-19 communities will need young people to contribute to the recovery effort, hence, they  need to be equipped with the skills to successfully manage evolving challenges and the resilience to adapt to future disruptions? Do you know that developing skilled youth was at the core of this year’s message for World Youth Skills Day held on 15th July, 2020 with the theme: “Skills for a Resilient Youth”? Do you know that the celebration this year was to take stock of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on skills development and explore how young people could respond to the economic crisis to help young people to be more resilient to changes caused by the current crisis and in the world of work in general? Do you know that COVID-19 pandemic has affected sectors which include, among others, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, real estate, administrative activities, accommodation, teaching, sales of books and food services? As a way to get more employment opportunities for our youths, do you know that the Federal Government has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee to boost the entertainment industry?  Come along, please.

Are you are that on Sunday 12th July, 2020, the Federal Government  handed over the National Theatre and its surrounding lands to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for restoration, which aims at creating millions of jobs for youths in the country and diversifying the country’s economy? Do you know that the National Arts Theatre is the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria, a monument located in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos, constructed in 1976 in preparation for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977 with the collection of National Gallery of Modern Nigerian Art housed in a section of the building?  According to Central Bank of Nigeria at the handing over ceremony in Lagos, do you know that Nigeria has the potential of earning $20 billion annually from the creative industry when the edifice is renovated into four pillars: information technology, music, film and fashion?

As we fight COVID-19, are you aware that the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo urged stakeholders, including government, parliamentarians and non-state actors, to be more effective and adopt holistic, strategic and coordinated approach in the fight against corruption at the 2019 African Union (AU) Anti-corruption Day organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja on 11th July, 2020? The voice of Vice President Osinbajo cuts in: “As a result, there is in place no zero tolerance policy to corrupt practices and non-conforming conducts in public life and for ensuring integrity and ethical conducts in the task of governance. It is time for Africa to fight for all it has lost through bad leadership and mismanagement of public funds which is detrimental to its citizens.“

Are you aware that on Tuesday 14th July, 2020, at the Webinar to mark the 20th Anniversary Africa Regional Webinar of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC, with the theme of the event, “Combating Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows: New Measures and Strategies, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo restated his call on the International Community to work together to solve the problem of secret corporate ownership, saying that anonymous corporate ownership has aided illicit financial flows and terrorism? Do you know that while  delivering the keynote address at the virtual event, said that breaking the walls of secret corporate ownership is crucial because such secrecy is implicated in the underdevelopment of many countries? Do you know that the Vice President revealed that President Buhari had at the May 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit made a commitment to establish a public register of the beneficial owners of all companies operating in Nigeria, a commitment that made Nigeria to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in December 2016 and subsequently submitted a National Action Plan prioritising the establishment of an all-encompassing and publicly accessible register? According to him, do you know that as the AU Champion on Anti-Corruption,  President Buhari, had in his report to the Assembly of the Union, 32nd Ordinary Session and at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continue to “advocate the facilitation of recovery of illicit financial assets?  Do you know that various literary icons had spent their lives and talent to campaign seriously against corruption before it got to this pandemic like coronavirus? Have you read “Who is Afraid of Solarin”?  You want to enjoy the story?  Come along. The voice of Vice President Osinbajo cuts in:

“Although anonymous companies are not always illegal, nevertheless secrecy provides a convenient cover for criminality and corruption. Our experience in Nigeria as in other developing countries is that anonymous corporate ownership covers a multitude of sins including conflict of interests, corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and even terrorism financing. Nigeria is in the process of amending its corporate law to implement these measures and mandate the disclosure of beneficial interest in a company’s shares and prescribe punitive measures for failure to disclose. Over the years, massive public resources and assets have been directly stolen, diverted, deliberately misapplied to gratify corrupt tendencies, stashed in foreign jurisdictions or mired in and susceptible to pilferage by the inequitable and unjust international economic system that continues to undermine the social and economic development aspirations of poor countries especially from Africa. Without effectively combating corruption and IFFs and promoting international cooperation for asset recovery and asset return, Africa cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We must also make all members of the international community see the benefit of shared prosperity and inclusive growth and development. It is the unenviable but noble task of ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to make corruption unattractive to its disciples and facilitate new approaches to stemming IFFS and promoting asset recovery and return.”

Do you know Femi Osofisan (born June 1946), a Nigerian writer noted for his critique of societal problems in his novels? Do you know that he retired as a full Professor in University of Ibadan in 2011 and  is currently a Distinguished Professor of Theatre Arts, Kwara State University, Nigeria? Do you know that he has written and produced more than 60 plays including “Who’s Afraid of Solarin”, a play published in 1978? Do you remember that the late Dr. Tai Solarin was the Principal and Proprietor of the Mayflower Grammar School at Ikenne, and Public Complaints Commissioner of the former Western State of Nigeria? Do you know that this play by Femi Osofisan,  was in honour of this dreaded icon? Do you know that  Isola the hero of the play, a rascally and irresponsible traveller, is mistaken for the dreaded Public Complaints Commissioner, Solarin, by the corrupt officials of the Local Government Council? Do you know that he plays on this until the real Commissioner arrives?

Are you aware that corruption has become endemic  in Nigeria, a situation that makes governance to lack integrity and legitimacy? Do you know that Femi Osofisan, uses the platform of drama to expose the prevalence and terrible effects of corruption on Nigeria? Do you know that Osofisan in the play berates all the tiers of government and the public office holders for the country’s economic woes and the general poverty level of Nigerians? Do you know that Femi Odekunle identifies variants of corruption to include: political corruption (political office-holders to retain political power); economic / commercial (businessmen and contractors); administrative / professional (casual and deliberate criminal acts by top administrative and professional personnel); organized corruption (large-scale and complex criminal activity by groups of elites), and working class corruption (artisans, messengers)?

Do you know that Femi Osofisan’s “Who’s Afraid of Solarin” is his first anti-corruption satire on graft and corruption prevalent in the Nigerian society? Can you believe that the play is an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s play in Imperial Russia titled “The Government Inspector” published in  (1836)? Can you believe that during the era of Imperial Russia, the aristocrats were totally in control of government and many of the officials saw their positions as opportunities for looting the government treasury? With this adaptation, can you see that corruption in public service has been with us for a long time? Do you know that Osofisan uses the play to draw a parallelism between the social and political situation in Nigeria and the Imperial Russia at the time when Gogol wrote his play? Do you know that the play is structured into five parts? Do you know that the Public Complaints Commission was established by the Obasanjo-Muhammed regime to tackle corruption and because of the integrity of Tai Solarin, he was appointed as the Commissioner to head the Western State branch of the Commission comprising Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States? Do you know that as a man in public service, Solarin acted his office as an icon of moral rectitude and social justice? Do you know that this is why the play is written in honour of him to celebrate his cause and determination to stand against public corruption? Do you know that the setting of the play is the Local Government system as represented by a Local Government Council Chairman called Chief Gbonmiayelobiojo,? Come along, please?

As the play opens, do you know that  the Chairman,  Chief Gbonmiayelobiojo, is deceived by his personal security men who disguise to be roving beggars discussing among themselves that Solarin has arrived in the town?  Can you believe that in the real sense, the stranger they take notice of and discuss about is not the fearsome Solarin but one Ishola Oriebora, a Lagos miscreant who escapes from his landlord on account of his debts and the attempt to probe him? Do you know that as Isola is travelling down, he is attacked by robbers and he finds succour in the vicarage in the town?  Can you believe that as soon as he realizes that he is being mistaken for Solarin, he assumes the role of Solarin, the Public Complaints Commissioner? Do you know that the Pastor, in whose vicarage Ishola lodges, having been fooled that Isola is Solarin, has no choice but to accommodate the strange visitor, Isola simply because he is afraid,  since he too has just stolen church money?  Can you believe that the strange guest in the vicarage deflowers the Pastor ‘s daughter, Cecilia? As a quick way to cover the ensuing shame of seeing a pregnant Cecilia before wedding, do you know that a wedding is hurriedly arranged between this rogue and the Pastor’s daughter? Can you believe that all the Local Government Council officials give their generous donations to the Isola, the rogue, thinking that they are bribing “Commissioner” Solarin to cover their tracks through the “settlement syndrome”? Can you believe that the Chairman eventually discovers through his diary that he has been deceived, a situation that instigates him to sack the beggars who peddle false rumours that assist Isola to outsmart even politicians of experience? Do you know that the fear of Solarin is the beginning of wisdom?

To be off the hook, do you know the Chairman of the Local Government Council, Chief Gbonmiayelobiojo, summons a meeting of the Council to decide how they can prevent the coming of Solarin which will spell doom for them? Do you know that the Council meeting turns out to be a forum where confessional statements that border on their corrupt acts are revealed at the slightest provocation? Do you want to zoom to the Council meeting? Come along. The meeting cuts in:

COUNCILLOR FOR COOPERATIVES:

That’s not the point of our complaint, you eunuch. After all your appointment as a Director of the Breweries came to you first on radio. You didn’t reject it.

COUNCILLOR FOR EDUCATION:

Don’t be silly; is it the same thing? Why are you women always confusing issues? Or you know how much I paid for that appointment? And who’s a eunuch if-

COUNCILLOR FOR COOPERATIVES:

And what of you! Is it the burden of plunder from the UPE buildings project that keeps you stunted?

COUNCILLOR FOR EDUCATION:

All because I refuse to let you encroach on the school lands for your poultry scheme.

COUNCILLOR FOR COOPERATIVES:

I have told you again and again. You can come into it if you want, I have left you the first choice over 30% or the remaining shares.

COUNCILLOR FOR EDUCATION:

Who wants that ant’s morsel? You can keep it. I remember offering you 45% ownership of Morise Construction Company when we were going to rehabilitate the Council roads.

COUNCILLOR FOR MAGISTRATE:

What happened to the money sent from Lagos for all the UPE buildings? For all we know, that’s why the Commissioner is coming here.

COUNCILLOR FOR EDUCATION:

You know very well that the plans of those buildings are all ready in my office. You saw the beautiful designs.

COUNCILLOR FOR COOPERATIVES:

Is it inside the plans that the children will learn to read and write? School’s supposed to be starting next week.

COUNCILLOR FOR EDUCATION:

So what! Rome was not built in a day. Go and bring your Commissioner here to catch me since I see that this is all a conspiracy. Many eminent men have gone to prison before and have come out only to be Heads of State. Bring your Commissioner, but just make sure that when he’s here he doesn’t take a look also at OFN Accounts. Even, the Chairman of the Council distributes goats and mirrors to entice the electorate. His wife has just opened a boutique with donations from the people of the town. To him, “no one is to take any bribes at all except with specific clearance from me.”  He is fully aware that all the responsibility for expedition in the Council will naturally fall on him. He therefore orders that all files on UPE contracts be burnt before the arrival of Solarin.”

Are you aware that in the play, the hospital is not left out as the Doctor in charge shirks in his responsibility and the hospital suffers irremediably from congestion, lack of regular baths for the patients, the mortuary is even more congested and the mortuary attendants make their living out of it, selling human parts? Do you know that corpses litter the floor despite the fact that Government has voted a lot of money for this which has been diverted into private purses by the workers? Do you know that despite all these impasse, the Doctor who is the head still says he has no skeleton in his cupboard? Can you believe that the judiciary is captured in the play, too? Do you know that the Chief Magistrate orders the poultry attendants to take some of the fowls from the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) poultry farm of the Local Government to his house for sumptuous dinner? Can you believe that the Chief Magistrate is a strong member of a dreaded cult group in town, contrary to his oath of office and oath of allegiance?

Do you know that among the Local Government Council official in the play, there is a Price Control Officer? Do you know what she does?  Can you believe that she sends her men to raid the market and goods confiscated end up in her home as her perquisite of office, a euphemistic way to do “price control”? In the play, can you believe that the Chairman and his officials look for a way of hiding all their fraudulent practices by engaging the Covid-19 resistant service of Baba Fawomi, an Ifa Priest? Do you know that in Yoruba tradition, an Ifa priest should be the conscience of the collective morality of the people, but in this play, do you know that the Ifa Priest is aware of the predicament in which the government officials are, and he decides to take advantage of the situation and use it to serve his own selfish interest? As he agrees to help them to prevent Solarin from coming, can you believe that he demands five cows each from the people for the sacrifice, plus ten goats, of the home-grown type all black and fat?  Do you know that he also asks the Price Control Officer to bring sixteen fowls, home raised chickens and seven bales of white cloth by each of them, ‘Sanyan’ with attractive design for the actual ceremony and generous hot gins?

Do you know that in the play, Pastor Nebuchadnezzar, the emergency in-law of Isola, the notorious rogue is gnawed by his fear of Solarin because he has embezzled the Church’s money, a situation that leads him to the herbalist who gives him a charm to be worn about, even to the pulpit to hypnotize the congregation so that they ewill not probe him nor report him to Solarin? Can you see how Solarin is projected as the epitome of honesty and perfection, a completely honest and incorruptible Nigerian public official?

Are you aware that as we speak, according to World Data Lab’s Poverty Clock, about 90 million people, roughly half of Nigeria’s population, live in extreme poverty? Do you know that this is higher than the population of DR Congo      (89,561,403),Turkey (84,339,067), Iran (83,992,949) and Germany (83,783,942) and equals to the population of Argentina (45,195,774) and Algeria (43,851,044)? Do you remember that in June 2018, Nigeria overtook India, a country with seven times its population, as the world poverty capital?  Do you know that if truly we are committed to the attainment of Agenda 2030, three things are essential for us to consider, namely: invest in girls’ education particularly and generally in the education of the 13 million out of school children, invest more in healthcare to reduce poverty-inducing health indicators such as  malaria, tuberculosis,  infant and maternal mortality, rapid spread of HIV and COVID-19 to boost our demographic dividend as the UN projects that Nigeria will have an estimated 398 million people and investing in human capital potential to creating jobs for women and young people, increasing financial access and opportunities these groups in rural communities, and advancing  innovation?

At this juncture, we join millions of Osun people to appreciate Governor Oyetola for his achievements in providing social net for the vulnerable groups,turning the entire State to a massive construction site for roads, Primary Health Centres and hospitals.  May you  wax strong in good health. And to Professor Soyinka at 86, there is a new assignment for you,  the urgent need to write a new novel, poem or play titled: “This Man Must not Die.”