Professor Wole Soyinka Tackles Emir Of Ilorin And This Is Why

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has tackled the emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari telling him he is neither omniscient nor omnipotent, but do you know why?

It is because of the latter’s role in not disallowing an Osun priestess, Yeye Ajesikemi Omolara, from holding a culturally rich festival in the state.

“The observance – the Isese festival is celebrated to mark Ifa spirituality and practice.

The literary giant made his reaction today, through a statement titled, ‘’Isese festival: An open letter to Sulu Gambari,’’ .

In it Professor Soyinka said: “The greatest avatars that the world has known were not without human frailties, flaws, and errors of understanding. You are not omniscient. And you are not omnipotent.’’

Prof Wole Soyinka Tackles Emir Of Ilorin And This Is Why2

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He reportedly added that it was such conducts that turned, a once ecumenical city like Kaduna into a blood-stained mockery of cohabitation.

According to him, it was also such conducts that made it possible for a young College of Education student in Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, to be lynched in the presence of armed police on the allegation of having belittled the image of a revered prophet.

Some Islamic clerics who were members of a Muslim group known as Majlisu Shabab-l-Ulamah Society earlier visited the priestess at her residence to tell her that the Emir of Ilorin sent them to warn her to desist from holding the three-day festival billed scheduled for between July 22 and July 24, 2023, in Ilorin. The priestess thereafter cancelled the festival through an online video, disclosing that her life was in danger having received several death threats.

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The report quotes the learned professor of literature as adding: “Your Royal Highness, So soon after the Moslem season of spiritual purification, it is sad to see the ancient city of Ilorin, a confluence of faiths and ethnic varieties, reduced to this level of bigotry and intolerance, manifested in the role of a presiding monarch.

Prof Wole Soyinka Tackles Emir Of Ilorin And This Is Why2

“The truncation of a people’s traditional festival is a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity. Year after year, the Ramadan has been celebrated in this nation as an inclusive gathering of humanity, irrespective of divergences of belief.

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“Not once, in my entire span of existence, have I encountered pronouncements by followers of any faith that the slaughtering of rams on the streets and marketplaces is an offence to their concept of godhead. Vegetarians hold their peace. Buddhists walk a different path. Prior to Ramadan, non-Moslems routinely join in observing the preceding season of fasting as a spiritual exercise worthy of emulation”, he added.