*Celebrates Soyinka on coming birthday
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere yesterday, commended President Bola Tinubu for naming the Arterial Road N20 in Abuja, after the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka.
Afenifere gave the commendation in statement by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi made available to journalists in Ibadan.
According to Afenifere, the honour bestowed on Prof Soyinka is well-deserved one, saying, the literary icon has “brought Nigeria fame, pride, and international acclaim,” as succinctly put by President Tinubu.
” The honour bestowed on the Nobel Laureate is timely, coming as we prepare to celebrate the 31st anniversary of June 12 struggle in which Professor Soyinka played very active roles”, it said.
Afenifere added, ” Not only that, the recognition is also a befitting prelude to the celebration of the Professor’s 90th birthday which is coming up next week.”
The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, also lauded Mr. Nyesome Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for recommending the naming of the said road after Soyinka to President Tinubu
According to Afenifere, it was better that Prof Soyinka was recognized nationally and internationally while still alive “given the immense contributions he has made locally, nationally and internationally to the efforts at ennobling humanity”.
“Professor Soyinka is one of those who made the world to acknowledge that Africans too are not only endowed but also have a lot to contribute to the ennoblement of humanity.”
Praising Soyinka for never despising his culture, Afenifere tasked those in authority at every level in Nigeria to emulate the Nobel Laureate not only by identifying with their people but more importantly to ensure that they act in a manner that relieves the pains of the people and enhance their self-worth.
“Afenifere seizes this opportunity to rejoice, in advance, with the literary and academic icon on his 90th birthday coming up next week. We also pray that the Almighty God will bless him with many more decades of good living in robust health and all that would be gladdening one’s heart, especially at such an advanced age that the intellectual giant has attained” .
