Soyinka decries ‘identity embezzlement’

Soyinka issued a statement following a post on Twitter by someone claiming to be Wole Soyinka, who condemned President Goodluck Jonathan over his decisions in what the Nobel laureate says is “a most distasteful, uncouth and unprincipled nature”. “I wish to inform the public that I do not Tweet, Blog, Facebook etc. etc. My public […]

Soyinka issued a statement following a post on Twitter by someone claiming to be Wole Soyinka, who condemned President Goodluck Jonathan over his decisions in what the Nobel laureate says is “a most distasteful, uncouth and unprincipled nature”.

“I wish to inform the public that I do not Tweet, Blog, Facebook etc. etc. My public statements are signed and/or go through authorized channels that the media recognize and can authenticate where in doubt. Any electronic message that purports to emanate from me for general circulation through Mobile phones or Internet should be taken as a complete concoction, in most cases by deranged minds with their private and sick agenda,” Soyinka said in a statement.

Soyinka condemned the act, especially given the precarious state of the Nigerian state saying, “I must remind the public that these are not normal times, and that extreme caution and personal responsibility are needed. It is no time to be taken in by spurious propaganda by cowards who cannot speak in their own voices or acknowledge the names given to them at birth or even acquired during their nefarious careers.

“Even more than the nausea one feels by being subjected to such identity embezzlement is the danger it poses generally, since it is certain that there are others who are similarly afflicted.

Soyinka had earlier last week issued a joint statement with Prof. Chinua Achebe and JP Clark calling on Nigeria’s government and people not to allow religious violence spread because Nigeria cannot afford another civil war.