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[ICYMI] Tinubu caricature: Soyinka distances self from Pyrates Confraternity

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Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka has distanced himself from the National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, after they were seen on video making caricature of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the viral video which was obtained by News Band, members of the confraternity, during a procession, were seen gyrating to an anti-Tinubu song, taunting Tinubu for his catchphrase “emi lo kan”, a phrase that means “It is my turn” in Yoruba language.

The former Lagos State governor had made the remarks during a speech in June in Abeokuta, Ogun State, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari should hand over power to him because it is his turn to be the president.

Responding, the Pyrates Confraternity were seen and heard singing “Baba wey no well dey shout Emi Lokan; hand dey shake, leg dey shake, Baba wey no fit stand e dey “emi lo kan”.

Reacting to the viral video, Soyinka, in a statement credited to the first Black Man to win Nobel Laureate in Literature, drew attention to the video clip making rounds on the internet.

National Association of Seadogs a.k.a. Pyrates Confraternity singing and dancing
National Association of Seadogs a.k.a. Pyrates Confraternity “gyrating”

It showed the group, purportedly members of the Pyrates Confraternity, dancing and chanting in red and white costume.

He said: “The display acidly targets a presidential candidate in the awaited 2023 elections.

“Since the whole world knows of my connection with that  fraternity, it is essential that I state in clear, unambiguous terms, that I am not involved in that public performance, nor in any way associated with the sentiments expressed in the songs.

“Like any other civic group, the Pyrates Confraternity is entitled to its freedom of expression, individually or collectively.

“So also is Wole Soyinka in his own person. I do not interfere in, nor do I attempt to dictate the partisan political choices of the Confraternity.

“I remain unaware that the association ever engages in a collective statement of sponsorship or repudiation of any candidate.

“This is clearly a new and bizarre development, fraught with unpredictable consequences.

“In addition, let me make the following cultural affirmation. I have listened to the lyrics of the chant intently and I am frankly appalled.

“I find it distasteful. I belong to a culture where we do not mock physical afflictions or disabilities. Very much the contrary.

“The Yoruba religion indeed designates a deity, Obatala, as the divine protector of the afflicted, no matter the nature of such affliction.

“This sensibility is engrained in us from childhood and remains with us all our lives. It operates on the principle of mortal frailty to which all humanity remains vulnerable.

“One of my favourite authors, about whom, by a coincidence, I had cause to write quite recently, was CLR James, author of The Black Jacobins, Beyond A Boundary etc. etc.

“I called him my ideological uncle.

Reno Omokri ’s petition on Tinubu Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed by 15,000 persons in day 4
Tinubu Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

“He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, but remained alert, lucid and combative for decades after the onset of the disease.

“We interacted politically at the Tanzanian pan-African Congress, the Dakar Festival of Negro Arts and a number of other cultural and political fora.

“We met frequently in his lifetime, dined together in restaurants, despite his challenge.

“It would be unthinkable, and a desecration of his memory to be part of any activity that mocked his affliction.”

He assured that a further statement will be issued after he makes further enquiries into this “strange, uncharacteristic outing of the association”.

 

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