Lol. Gbenga Daniel Writes On Why We Must Pray For Soyinka After Soyinka Called Him Out On EFCC’s Zero Tolerance

Why We Must Pray For Wole Soyinka -Otunba Gbenga Daniel

We have read with disappointment and mixed feelings some of
the uncharitable statements credited to the Nobel Laureate Professor Wole
Soyinka in Zero Tolerance, a publication of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

In the said interview, we noticed what has now become
character about the respected literary Icon, the disparaging reference to
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State.

We need to state unequivocally that we are disappointed
because by training, conduct and culture, a younger man is disadvantaged to
respond to elders in this part of the world, and we relate to this statement
with mixed feelings because, Professor Soyinka is somebody Otunba Gbenga Daniel
holds in high esteem as a great Ambassador of Africa, part of the reason why
his 70th birthday was celebrated with pomp and ceremony during the
administration of Otunba Daniel.

However we need to set certain records straight on some of
the issues raised so that the unsuspecting publics would not continue to be
misled and misguided by the misrepresentation of facts on our recent history
especially coming from someone of Professor Soyinka’s standing.

1. Perhaps, Prof needs to be reminded that the police
institution had never been, was and is not yet in the hands of any state’s
governor to use at his whims and caprices as suggested by Professor Soyinka.
For clarification, State police commissioners are appointed by the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), who in turn is responsible to, and takes his ‘order’
from the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. So,
accusing Otunba Gbenga Daniel of putting the Ogun State House of Assembly under
lock with “Mopol guiding it” 
is totally out of place and reprehensible. It is also instructive to
note that Otunba Gbenga Daniel was one of those who believe in the idea of
State Police as a veritable way of curbing crime, but the reality is that it is
still a Federal Government institution.

2. In case it might also not have crossed the mind of
Professor Soyinka, what transpired in the Ogun State House of Assembly in the
period under reference was taken to court, before Justice Onamade, and one
would wonder what line of argument would Professor advanced had OGD interfered
again in an issue which was already taken before another arm of government
competent enough to decide on such sensitive matter and contradictions in
affairs of government. That judgment has not been appealed by anyone, including
Professor Soyinka even after five years.

3. We also need to remind Professor Soyinka that the ruling
of the court recognised the Soyemi Coker- led House of Assembly which Prof and
some others who took same line of thoughts with him decided to deride and
condemned using only ‘abstract’ knowledge to interpret. We are well aware that
Professor Soyinka is too intelligent to know that not everything that
“looks” morally permissible can be constitutionally right. Except of
course, Professor is advocating the abrogation of our secular state for an
ecclesiastical style of government where affairs of government will be
conducted on spiritual morality. The facts of what transpired in the Ogun State
House of Assembly are well documented, including the personal accounts of
Otunba Gbenga Daniel in his Autobiography “Daniel in The Lion’s Den”,
a follow-up edition which is in due course.

4. We frowned at the ‘selective’ advocacy Professor Soyinka
had recently descended to in his version of ‘activism’ as if the whole world
should be made to look at political issues ONLY from the ‘selective’ prism and
perspective of Professor Soyinka. We think not. The world had moved on with a
lot of sophistication which Professor should endeavour to relate to with open
minds. We recall that Professor Soyinka, with some known members of the
Opposition to our government in 2010 had stormed the Ake Church Cathedral for
what they claimed was a “Town Hall Meeting”. We do not want to
believe Prof is still smarting from that failed political encounter which was
obvious to all discerning minds was politically motivated, ostensibly aimed at
promoting the interest of other political parties and interest in which the son
of Professor Soyinka was already slated to serve, as follow-up event eventually
proved.

5. We would rather think in consonant with age, status and
accomplishments and respects which go with all these, Prof should wake up to
the reality of the law of diminishing returns and be circumspect in speech and
public utterance, especially as he has the latitude of personal intervention on
matters of conflict in Ogun State; he could simply call and seek audience with
Otunba Gbenga Daniel and or any of the other principal actors involved then to
make an unbiased judgment.

6. We have followed the rather condemnable reference to
Professor Soyinka by a former President of Nigeria (a member of the same
generation with Prof) referring to him in as a “respected wine
connoisseur” whose political judgment is suspect. While not subscribing to
this derisive comment, it remains for Professor Soyinka to prove this wrong
with his well researched and highly informed judgment and comments on issues of
politics. He should endeavour to ask what ACTUALLY transpired and Why.

7. We also need to put on record, that despite of the
various attempts to demonise the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration by
Professor Soyinka and some others who constituted themselves as Opposition to
the government, in contrast to the experience in other parts of the country,
while the opposition simulated crisis lasted in Ogun State, no single soul was
lost under the watch of His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel and no single act
of violence was recorded contrary to the Propaganda they painted to the outside
world.

8. We believe that while it lasted, OGD have proven to have
a better democratic credentials than most people, especially politicians that
Professor Soyinka had chosen not to cristicise in his self-styled social
activism.

9. Let us also place on record that President Goodluck
Jonathan appointed Otunba Gbenga Daniel as his Campaign Coordinator for the
South West in 2011 (and not 2015 as misrepresented) and he delivered
overwhelmingly; and despite the strong wind of change and the very unusual
circumstances in 2015 Otunba Daniel still delivered his Federal and Senatorial
constituencies for President Jonathan.

We implore those who have been so misguided by the
orchestrated falsehood, lies and deceits and misrepresentations spurned out to
encourage Professor Soyinka to do critical review of the performances of some
of the governments and political actors he had promoted, supported and helped
installed in relation to the commonwealth and improvements of the living
conditions of the average citizens.

Signed:

Steve Oliyide

Media Aide to Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Governor, Ogun State (2003-2011).