Owolabi Salis eulogises Soyinka at 90

 

In an unending festival of tributes, ever streaming in, since the ninetieth birthday celebration of the literary legend, Professor Wole Soyinka, eminent US-based lawyer and Public Affairs commentator, High Chief Owolabi Salis has described him “not only as an enigma, but an enigma among enigmas, and a riddle that staggers and defeats the imagination”.

“In the ensemble of Nobel Laureates, Soyinka emerges distinctly unique and unequalled in terms of his staggering all-time achievements that defy time and space in terms of their limitless impact to affect and advance the ethical order of humanity to a greater frontiers of civilization,” says the popularly acclaimed social critic and activist.

He stated further that “his prodigious feat transcends the confines of literary greatness, embracing the all-encompassing agitation for liberty, equity, justice, and an egalitarian socio-political order.

According to the US-based lawyer and celebrated social reformer, “Soyinka’s exploits in terms of their amazing literary depth and fecundity is only comparable with the literary prodigy of the European wordsmith, William Shakespeare.

“However, Soyinka’s cutting edge, as amply corroborated by the panel of Nobel awardees consists in his remarkable acumen in exploiting his works, which “in a wide cultural perspective, and with poetic overtones, fashions the drama of existence.

“From the foregoing, it is apparent,” according to the Ikorodu-born High Chief, ” that Soyinka illustrates a quintessential typification of the debt which the writer owes the society, not only as the conscience of the society but also as a model and pace-setter, inspiring a dynamic progression on the ideal way forward.

“Back home here, at my base in the US, I was privileged as a first-hand witness of his relentless struggle in which he took on the Abacha military. I was part of the team led by Chief Jumoke Ogunkeyede, who made a strongly persuasive presentation to the New York City government to rename” 44th Street “on “Second Ave, “to bear “Kudirat Abiola Corner”, a new name which we deemed only just and necessary, as a befitting tribute to the heroic role of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola,who in an unmitigated act of savagery, was gunned down, in the struggle for liberty during the dark days of military tyranny,casting an ominous pall on the national space. I remembered many prominent people who testified at the New York City Council then, which included Baba Wole Soyinka, Baba Enahoro, Walter Carrington, Hafsat Abiola, late Mayor Dickins, General Alani Akinrinade and, and also some human rights groups.”

“Chief Jumoke Ogunkeye’s house was attacked by agents of the incumbent military tyrant at that time. The military attache to the Nigerian House at the time in question is currently serving under the Tinubu regime.

“President Tinubu’s regime symbolizes the first time that members of the old NADECO vanguard, who struggled for the prevailing order of civilian democracy will be in charge and for this particular reason, I am really worried that people like Chief Jumoke Ogunkeyede, Alex Okiemute Kaba and many others are really not acknowledged and accorded the proper honor they deserve, in appreciation of their patriotic roles at that time, although for obvious reason of modesty, I refuse to argue for myself,” Salis lamented.

“Mr. President knew some of these people who almost paid with their lives, during that turbulent moment of darkness, even by name,” Salis recalled.

“To me, Soyinka is a living deity. Were it to be in the olden days,Soyinka would have literally been worshipped,just like the Sango or Ogun deities among others in the pantheons of Yoruba gods who were humans like anyone of us,but elevated to the towering height of god-head on account of their prodigious superhuman accomplishment during their eventful stay on the earthly divide,” said the learned lawyer, motivational speaker, politician and life-coach, who in 2019, contested for governorship on the platform of Alliance For Democracy.

“It is my prayer that Baba Soyinka would live with us here on the earthly divide to celebrate a much awaited grand centenary and possibly even beyond a centenary,” Salis prayed.