My point is this: I would be surprised if Professor Soyinka knew of the amount of money to change hands or the 84 million Naira tab would cap the multimillion Naira 80th birthday dinner before attending it. I would not be surprised if he did not know; and I would be disappointed, grossly and painfully disappointed, if he did (know) - Michael O. Afolayan.
Is it not an exercise in futility to assume or speculate that Wole Soyinka knew, in advance, that the cost of the dinner to which he was invited would cost, according to MOA, 84 million Naira tab? Is it normal for any invitee to a dinner to ask how much the host is going to spend to host the dinner?Although Wole Soyinka was eighty at the time of the dinner, there was no indication that he was suffering from dementia. Thus, if Wole Soyinka's host had told him that he was being invited to come and gorge on nicely salted rogue dinner of N82 million, Soyinka would not have honoured the invitation, just as he refused to accept national honour award from President Jonathan in 2013 because Abacha was also awarded national honour posthumously and was to be received by his son, Mohammed Abacha, at the same occasion.
The cost of the dinner, according to the Rivers State Commissioner, was N82 million, but MOA has increased it to N84 million. If MOA consciously or unconsciously could increase the amount of money spent for the dinner with two million naira, how then can one be sure that Rivers State Commissioner has not with malicious intention increased the amount of money spent for the Wole Soyinka's dinner from, maybe, eight-thousand and two hundred naira (N8,200) or eighty-two thousand and two hundred naira (N82,000) to eighty-two million naira (N82,000,000)? Instead of speculating and jumping into conclusion we should ask the accuser to support his accusation with verifiable vouchers and receipts covering total expenditure of the dinner. Similarly, former Governor Amaechi should tell us how much he actually spent on the dinner. In the absence of rendered public account, we should stop discussing shadow and ghost cost of the said dinner.
S.Kadiri
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2016 08:16:36 +0000
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: Wole Soyinka and the Rivers State Dinner Controversy: Soyinka and Amaechi's Response and Rejoinders to Those [Facebook Debates]
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Is it not an exercise in futility to assume or speculate that Wole Soyinka knew, in advance, that the cost of the dinner to which he was invited would cost, according to MOA, 84 million Naira tab? Is it normal for any invitee to a dinner to ask how much the host is going to spend to host the dinner?Although Wole Soyinka was eighty at the time of the dinner, there was no indication that he was suffering from dementia. Thus, if Wole Soyinka's host had told him that he was being invited to come and gorge on nicely salted rogue dinner of N82 million, Soyinka would not have honoured the invitation, just as he refused to accept national honour award from President Jonathan in 2013 because Abacha was also awarded national honour posthumously and was to be received by his son, Mohammed Abacha, at the same occasion.
The cost of the dinner, according to the Rivers State Commissioner, was N82 million, but MOA has increased it to N84 million. If MOA consciously or unconsciously could increase the amount of money spent for the dinner with two million naira, how then can one be sure that Rivers State Commissioner has not with malicious intention increased the amount of money spent for the Wole Soyinka's dinner from, maybe, eight-thousand and two hundred naira (N8,200) or eighty-two thousand and two hundred naira (N82,000) to eighty-two million naira (N82,000,000)? Instead of speculating and jumping into conclusion we should ask the accuser to support his accusation with verifiable vouchers and receipts covering total expenditure of the dinner. Similarly, former Governor Amaechi should tell us how much he actually spent on the dinner. In the absence of rendered public account, we should stop discussing shadow and ghost cost of the said dinner.
S.Kadiri
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2016 08:16:36 +0000
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: Wole Soyinka and the Rivers State Dinner Controversy: Soyinka and Amaechi's Response and Rejoinders to Those [Facebook Debates]
Two things:
First of all, without moon-walking back to the conversation triggered a few days ago, I would like to say Ken's observation of Professor Falola is right on the money. Indeed, it's what has been well known to a critical mass on this and some other networks over the years. It further underscores those factors responsible for the making of a catalyst for progress. Not one bit surprised. I'll leave it at that. . . .
Secondly, at the risk of being misconstrued as committing a fallacy of illicit minor, I would like to say that the N82m dinner is not only a euphemism for corruption - after all, we all know that corruption has blended snugly into the culture of contemporary Nigeria, it is a metaphor for how the gospel of corruption is spread home and abroad; left, right, and center. I have a theory, and I stand corrected; but my people would say the unwise farmer who harvests and eats its yam tubers prematurely always wants everyone else to do likewise. This poor translation does not do a good job to deliver my point here but the idea is that the patriarchs (and matriarchs, I must add) of the obvious endemic culture of corruption at the home front have found a way of bringing as many as possible (suspecting or unsuspecting citizens) under their wings and within a close proximity of the natural curse that comes with their deeds. Here is what I am saying:
I cannot in good conscience exonerate Professor Soyinka regarding this matter as I do not know what transpired in the "dinning" process, but I would not be surprised if the 80th birthday "dinner" was just a convenient trap to bamboozle the big shot into believing his friend was truly feting him, not knowing the so-called friend's hidden agenda was simply to use the big name of the big man as the mule to ship the "national cake" (a.ka. N82m) out of the government house, unbeknown to the mule. Therefore, when the strong climber (gburu) is dragged out of the thick forest, a wide range of forest shrubs is dragged along. The attention automatically shifts from the culprit, "gburu" and all eyes are turned to the forest shrubs, which now must have littered the roadside fully noticed by all passersby. Who would hear the name "Wole Soyinka" and remember to notice one "Amaechi" in the mix? I doubt it! If this tactic does not work, the politician is going to be "sick" very soon and travel overseas, sending images of sorry conditions to the gullible citizenry. Nowhere does the theater of corruption provide such comedies of lamentation at the expense of the working class than in the home front. You ask, how on earth would every thief become suddenly sick only after stealing for themselves an equivalent of what should be meant for millions of citizens? In the Shakespearean language, these politicians are the "ruins of the noblest (working Nigerians) that ever lived in the tide of times!" But I refrain from uttering the words of Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar to predict their future. All I can say is "All days belong to the thief . . ."
These diabolical stratagems of corrupt politicians have preyed on the gullibility of many public figures, who are, for the most part, book smart but deficient in street-smartness. Case in point: I spent quality time with the wife of the late Tai Solarin (TS), Mama Sheila, a few years before her passing. When, out of curiosity, I asked her if she knew of any particular regret/s that her iconic husband, TS, ever entertained, she told me categorically that it was having anything to do with the Nigerian government, which used his name to execute their pathological corruption and ending up to embarrass him in the process. My point is this: I would be surprised if Professor Soyinka knew of the amount of money to change hands or the 84 million Naira tab that would cap the multimillion Naira 80th birthday dinner before attending it. I would not be surprised if he did not know; and I would be disappointed, grossly and painfully disappointed, if he did.
Michael O. Afolayan
From the Land of Lincoln
On Saturday, January 9, 2016 1:22 PM, kenneth harrow <harrow@msu.edu> wrote:
what a shame!
in some countries, (burkina), one could imagine a revolution. even in s africa, the revolution against white rule was also against money and privilege. i think i have read that some of the resentments up north are tied to the sense that the money is not coming there, where it should; just as the revolt in the delta has been justified on the ground that the oil flows out, but the money for it doesn't come back in.
there is a lot of violence in nigeria. the more there is money, graft, corruption, the more one might imagine, eventually, instability. a poorer sahelian country, with little to steal, comparatively, might be protected against this internal conflict....
i am not stating that just because oil comes from one region (in the u.s., that is texas, and alaska), that those people should benefit from it more than other citizens. but the resentments would be enormous were there not to be some kind of sharing, and in the case of nigeria, perhaps these are multiplied by what you are writing, salimonu, about the corruption of the state stealing the money, not just failing to distribute equitably among the citizenry.
k
in some countries, (burkina), one could imagine a revolution. even in s africa, the revolution against white rule was also against money and privilege. i think i have read that some of the resentments up north are tied to the sense that the money is not coming there, where it should; just as the revolt in the delta has been justified on the ground that the oil flows out, but the money for it doesn't come back in.
there is a lot of violence in nigeria. the more there is money, graft, corruption, the more one might imagine, eventually, instability. a poorer sahelian country, with little to steal, comparatively, might be protected against this internal conflict....
i am not stating that just because oil comes from one region (in the u.s., that is texas, and alaska), that those people should benefit from it more than other citizens. but the resentments would be enormous were there not to be some kind of sharing, and in the case of nigeria, perhaps these are multiplied by what you are writing, salimonu, about the corruption of the state stealing the money, not just failing to distribute equitably among the citizenry.
k
On 1/9/16 10:46 AM, Salimonu Kadiri wrote:
Thank you Kenneth for approximating the alleged 82 million naira dinner for Soyinka to 400,000 dollars. That is a huge amount of money as you have observed. Unfortunately, Nigerians don't have respect for figures especially when they pertain to elections and money. The commissioner that is making allegation of eighty-two million dollars dinner is appointed and serving under a governor whose election has just been nullified by the Appeal Court in Nigeria because he was declared elected by votes that exceeded the total number of registered voters in Rivers State. It was for the same reason that the elections of over half of members of Rivers State House of Assembly have been nullified by the Appeal Court. The legitimacy of the current Rivers State government is yet to be finally decided by the Supreme Court. The figure being bandied by the Rivers State Commissioner as a dinner cost may not be true in as much as it has not been substantiated with any document. It is worth remembering that Rivers State House of Assembly was closed down from July 2014 because five members of the House, backed by President Jonathan with Federal Police, claimed the right to suspend twenty-seven members of the House and to impeach the Governor of the State, Chibuike Amechi. Yes, in Nigeria's numerical structure, five is greater than twenty-seven!!--
The ruling elites in Nigeria do not simply see governance as a means of food distribution among themselves and in which they eat on behalf of their respective ethnic group but as an opportunity to steal appropriated developmental money. On November 13, 2007, the Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, was a speaker at a three-day 6th national seminar organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja. Antonio Maria Costa told his audience that between 1960, when Nigeria became independent and 1999, when democracy was restored, a sum of four-hundred billion dollars ($400 billion) was stolen and stashed away in foreign banks by a generation of corrupt rulers. He lamented thus, "If you were to put $400 billion bills in a row, you will make a path from here to the moon and back not once but 75 times. Think of how different Nigeria would have looked today (if the money had been used to develop Nigeria)." On December 5, 2007, the Nigerian media carried the news that the chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, accused the United Nations of withholding information regarding the $400 billion stolen from Nigeria and kept in Europe and the US. It is an irony of fate that those who received Black slaves and colonized the Black man are also the receivers and keepers of stolen developmental money not only from Nigeria but entire Africa. Again, stolen $400 billion would have caused a revolt in other countries but not in Nigeria where figures have no value. So, the alleged $400,000 dinner is nothing to talk about when compared to $400 billion.
S.Kadiri
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fwd: Wole Soyinka and the Rivers State Dinner Controversy: Soyinka and Amaechi's Response and Rejoinders to Those [Facebook Debates]
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
From: harrow@msu.edu
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 11:16:04 -0500
hard to fathom this story, for me, without looking up the exchange rate for naira. i got $1=200 naira; one naira= half a cent.
so, one million naira = $5,000.
80 million naira, $400,000 should feed trump for a week!
or lots of the rest of us for many years.
and you say, they only had roast beef sandwiches?
to come to the more serious reflection, how many occasions do the super rich spend a fortune on catered or restaurant meals. literally a thousand or more dollars. maybe even $5000 for a business meal, with expensive wines.
how many poor use food stamps?
that is the injustice that demands , at a minimum, the politics of bernie sanders, and at the maximum a revolutionary change to the neoliberal globalization that has spawned such inequality in the recent decades?
ken
On 1/8/16 10:46 AM, Oluwatoyin Adepoju wrote:
--
See posts and rich debates at respective links
For more type 'Wole Soyinka' into facebook searchMight require a Facebook account, which is a must for following developments in contemporay Nigerian history
N82m Dinner: Prof Soyinka replies Wike, says he can't ask his hosts "how much they spend"1. Chukwudi Iwuchukwu
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2. Amaechi denies spending N82m on dinner for Soyinka, dares Wike to go to court
3. WHEN CORRUPTION FIGHTS BACK: Critical Questions for Embattled Professor Wole Soyinka
4. 80th Birthday Dinner: Soyinka replies Rivers govt
5. Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has described as 'abominable distractions,' statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Dr Austin Tam-George, that the state would demand a refund from him (Soyinka) if it is confirmed that he collected cash from the N82 million allegedly spent by immediate-past Governor, Rotimi Amaechi on a dinner to honour him
6. " When I learnt of the scandalous accusation of a dinner worth N82 million Naira in my honour, I thought it was one of those accusations from politicians to lug me, into murky political waters. But having received an instrument from the Rivers state government to corroborate its stance. I'm even more saddened, and would like to posit, that I was only treated to a dinner, by the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration. And I ingested only foods and drinks, and afterwards retired to the Rivers state government guest house, where I laid my head, and flew back to Lagos the next day. I wasn't vouchsafed with any pecuniary advancement or benefaction, that would worth that amount. I still would not want to probe into the catering and logistical implications of that dinner in my honour. However, my cogitation navigates, to what I will refer to as, corruption backed up by the absence of a public procurement act, by that government. It's either I was used as conduit to loot the treasury of Rivers state by that government or some contractors were not sincere. " ~~Prof Wole Soyinka
7. Soyinka and the Pornography of Excess.
8. Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has described as 'abominable distractions,' statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Dr Austin Tam-George, that the state would demand refund from him (Soyinka) if he collected cash from the N82 million alleg
9. News: N82million ill-fated Wole Soyinka Dinner : Nobel Laureate says it's not his business to know how much was expended by his friend
10. Probe Me, Soyinka Dares EFCC
11. Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has denied allegations that he hosted Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka to an N82 million dinner while in office.
12. Soyinka responds to Rivers govt's call for his probe over "N82 million dinner"
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