UN names Soyinka to global culture, peace panel – The Guardian

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been named by the United Nations (UN) among a panel of prominent political, intellectual and religious figures around the world charged by the global body has charged with tackling the problems of cultural divides and diminishing global peace.

The panel, which includes former presidents and leading global figures from all regions of the world, was set up by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) with a view to promoting peace founded on justice, respect for human rights, gender equality and solidarity in the context of an increasingly globalised world.

UNESCO hosted the panel’s first meeting last Thursday in the Paris office of the UN. Soyinka was one of the four panellists who spoke at the media conference held after the panel’s inaugural talks.

Soyinka’s contribution focused on theocracy as a system of governance and submitted that theocracy posed a threat to world peace.

The Nobel laureate also frowned at the idea of political correctness, which prevents people, governments and cultures from engaging in frank dialogues.

Soyinka attacks rulers, fingers Obasanjo for nation’s woes – The Guardian

Nigera’s stunted political growth and economic decline were yesterday again x-rayed by Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and other eminent citizens who canvassed urgent concerted efforts to pull the country from the brink.

Pointedly, Soyinka called for affirmative action by the people to safeguard their destiny and rescue the ship of state from the rudderlessness the ruling elite whom he also accused of treason has subjected it to.

The occasion was the first year anniversary lecture of the Edo State government led by former labour leader, Adams Oshiomhole.

The issue of credible elections as a way to achieving sustainable democratic development in Nigeria dominated the event.

MEND picks Soyinka, Akhigbe to negotiate with govt – The Guardian

A fresh opportunity to stop the violence in the Niger Delta apparently emerged yesterday with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) releasing the names of those who would represent the group at peace talks with the Federal Government.

MEND disclosed its latest position barely four days to the expiration of the Federal Government’s amnesty on October 4. But MEND has emphatically declared that it will not accept the deadline until the root causes of militancy and agitation in the Niger Delta are addressed by the government.

The team of eminent persons whom MEND described as the Aaron Team include former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe (rtd), Prof. Wole Soyinka, Maj.-Gen. Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd) and Prof. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde. MEND has also nominated Annkio Briggs to liaise on behalf of the group with the team.

Gunmen attack Okah, snatch car – The Guardian

Supected armed robbers on Sunday attacked leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah. The incident, which occurred at Papalanto junction on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State, came 20 days after the Federal Government freed him from detention last July 13.

Okah, who was in the company of Wilson Ajuwa, his lawyer and Tony Uranta, Secretary-General, United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), was returning from Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the trio had visited Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Narrating their ordeal in the hands of the armed men in his home, Uranta said that the incident was “awful” and that it speaks volumes of the state of security in the country.