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How Soyinka shocked me in his house – Gbenga Daniel
Daniel and Soyinka
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By Nehru Odeh
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, has revealed how Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka shocked him when he visited him at his Ijegba residence, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Daniel, who is currently the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, made this known while delivering the keynote address at an event the Isara community – where Soyinka hails from – organised to mark his 90th birthday and celebrate him. Soyinka, whose birthday is being celebrated across the globe, turned 90 on Saturday 13 July 2024.
The event tagged, “Celebrsting our Illustrious Son, Prof. Wole Soyinka at 90′ held on Monday 15 July at Afotamodi Town Hall, Isara-Remo, in Ogun State. It was facilitated by BLDR Kunle Awobodu.
In his speech, Daniel, who was also the Chairman of the occasion, said when he visited Soyinka and saw that he wasn’t using an air conditioner and the road leading to his residence wasn’t tarred, he volunterred to tar the road and fix an air conditioner in his house.
However, Soyinka turned down his offer on the grounds that he preferred the road untarred. He also said he preferred getting fresh air to using an air conditioner
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“Let me tell you another story, whuch would shock you. I went to visit Prof in his house in Abeokuta. The road was not tarred, no air conditioner. Nothing. I said, ‘Prof, why don’t you put air conditioner? He said ‘I want fresh air’, adding that our fathers didn’t have air conditioners and they lived long.
“So, today that he is 90, I am not surprised. And i am not surprised if he still goes to 100, 120 years.
“But the other thing is that I said, ‘Oga, let us come and tar this road for you. He said ‘Don’t tar the road.’ I said, ‘why?’ He said by the time you tar this road, vehicles would just be going up and down. It is the noise and pollution that i will be hearing.’
And guess what? He said, ‘I enjoy killing aparo (guinea fowl) . I aimel my dane gun. And whenever I feel like i shoot at aparo. And i have food to eat. By the time you tar this place, vehicles would be going up and down, aparo would not be available any longer.’
*That is Prof Wole Soyinka, the naturalist. I can go on and on and on, ” Daniel maintained.
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