ILORIN: Another whip for Soyinka, as MMWG warns him to stop his disrespect for Northern monarch

*Stop dabbling into affairs that do not concern you, he is told

By KEMI KASUMU

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has been warned to stop dabbling into issues that do not concern him, as he was slammed by yet another body of influential Ilorin-based institution for insulting the “respected” Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

He was rather told, as an elderly person, to ensure that issues bothering on faith and tradition of the people are well respected and not denigrated.

This warning was given by Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) in a press statement issued by its National Coordinator Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, on Friday.

“It should be recalled that His Royal Highness the Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR had ordered the cancellation 3-day fetish traditional worship called Ajesikemi Olokun Orisha & Egbe Festival in Ilorin which Eminent Leaders and Scholars of Islamic City said must not hold.

“According to the Media Group, Soyinka’s call for dialogue with the Organizer of the traditional worship which is alien to the custom, culture and faith of the people is to say the least an insult to the people of Ilorin Emirate and reverred Traditional Institution of Ilorin people who are predominantly muslims.

“The Group maintained that Soyinka has always provided an opinion that are at variance with the people’s faiths wondering what concerns him about religious issue since he is an atheist and free-thinker!” He said.

The MMWG recalled that the issue of hijab that occured at different times and years in Lagos, Osun and Kwara states, Professor Soyinka commented and all his comments were against the spirit of the Constitution and extant laws.

It added that Muslims eventually won the battle up to Supreme Court level.

The Group, therefore, warned “Professor Wole Soyinka to always respect himself and steer clear of issues that does not concern him”, adding that “his behaviour is unbecoming of an academic of high integrity.”