What a pity that some individuals, especially in leadership positions, have never learnt to leave well alone! Oyinlola, embattled governor of Osun State on multiple fronts, raced to Sydney, Australia, to seek audience with Ulli Beier, seeking a way out of the unsavory dilemma into which he had been thrust by his former military boss to whom his allegiance remains fixated over and above the claims of truth, culture, decency, and the people of Osun state over whom he was presumably ‘elected’; to preside. His mission: to seek a face-saving formula from the Beiers.
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Ever his gracious, Yoruba acculturated self, Ulli Beier consented to receive him but – alone, without his entourage. There – and I do not speculate – he was duly scolded like the errant scion of a royal house he is, called to order, reminded by his elderly host of a long cultural collaboration with his late father. Oyinlola emerged duly chastened, knowing that he had no choice but to revert to the path of honour. However, does he leave well alone? No, he had to present the nation with his own version of that closed-door session, laying the seeds of further distractions and/or new ways to pursue a tenacious agenda. It is not by accident that the FESTAC collection has been mentioned in documents connected to this saga of acquisitive obsession. We had better start screaming right now, even before ‘facts’ become facts, and a national acquisition ends in the bowels of presidential Laundromats. Now, what are these ‘facts’ that Oyinlola advises his betters to verify before exercising their ‘elder statesman’ interventionist compuslsion. It is a demeaning exercise, but I must try public patience with a reiteration of some already stated facts – facts as in factual, without the inverted commas. The following are excerpts from a letter of 4 July 2007 to Mr. Koichiro Matsura, Director-General of UNESCO, by Ambassador Michael Omolewa, the Nigerian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO:
“Permit me to present to you formally my Government’s proposal: the Government of Nigeria has decided that the Institute shall be established on the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State……”
Now, turn to page 3 of that letter, under “Explanatory Note” and see the guaranteed contents of this Institute. I quote:
“Ulli and Georgina Beier have signed an agreement with the Government in which they agreed to transfer their archive and collection of some 10,000 items of books, articles, photographs, negatives and albums, films, videos, audio cassettes, record CDs, ephemera about concerts and exhibitions and other cultural items and material pertaining to Nigerian and in particular Yoruba culture…..”
Will Prince Oyinlola kindly tell the nation to which Institute, according to Omolewa’s letter, this collection was to be transferred?
In the immediately preceding paragraph, Ambassador Omolewa actually assures the Director-General that sub-branches of the Obasanjo Library-based Institute will be created, the first of which shall be the ‘ULLI AND GEORGINA BEIER CENTRE FOR BLACK CULTURE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING”. This was the picture presented to Ulli Beier, only for this laudable recognition to be appropriated by the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, on behalf of which the UNESCO Category II accreditation was to be sought.
It is a tedious, ignoble affair, and I have already laid out the heart of the matter in my earlier article that alerted UNESCO to the danger of it being turned into a Laundromat for Failed Rulers. So let me cut straight though the brambles of deceit, manipulation and confusionist tactics at ambassadorial level. Here is the title of the actual petition that went before the Executive Board - Document 177 Ex/69) of 17 September 2007 - for presentation to the General Assembly:
“PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN CULTURE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AT THE OLUSEGUN OBASANJO LIBRARY IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE NIGERIA, AS A CATEGORY 2 CENTRE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF UNESCO”
Lo and behold, the ULLI AND GEORGINA BEIER CENTRE FOR BLACK CULTURE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING, on the basis of which the archives were bought, presented to the Director-General for endorsement in July 2007 by the Nigerian Government through her Ambassador Omolewa, had become, by September of the same year, the OLUSEGUN OBASANJO INSTITUTE. Based on what credentials? The ability to swallow, intact, the Ulli and Georgina collection, salted and spiced by public funds. This was the Grand Larceny that would have become a fait accompli in April this year, but for the naturally resented intervention of those who are now advised to get their ‘facts’ straight. The shameless posturing of Oyinlola takes one’s breath away.
More facts? In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Babaloola Borishade, Minister of Culture, on behalf of the Nigerian Government, and dated 10th May, 2007, the honorable Minister provides the genesis of the conspiracy to appropriate the Beier archives in paragraph 5 (Background). In the Minister’s words:
‘Subsequently President Olusegun Obasanjo requested Professor Borisade, Professor Omolewa, and Hans d’Orville to explore and negotiate with Mr. and Mrs. Beier the terms and arrangements of a transfer of the archive from Sydney in a newly to be created centre in Oshogbo, as part of a new Institute for Black Culture and International Understanding being established under UNESCO’s auspices at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library”
Put all those ‘facts’ together, and all they form is a crooked line. As it happens however, a substantive issue has been raised that must be confronted by UNESCO. Now that Oyinlola’s authoritative voice has been raised to assure the nation, and the people of Osun State, that the archives will now go where they were originally designated, what does that make of the earlier aspirant, now thwarted custodian, the Obasanjo Library? In cultural terms, a koroo isana. An empty matchbox, and I consider it my duty to pass on this development, and its implications, formally to UNESCO in my capacity as Goodwill Ambassador, among other hats I occasionally put on my head.
My prolonged collaboration with that institution indicates quite plainly that it endorses actualities, be they of Nature or man’s intelligence – Angkor Wat, Osun Grove, Sintra, Abu Simbel, the Alhambra, active programmes with records to show for their existence, specialised institutions etc. etc. I have yet to learn that ‘yet-to-be-created’ notions, expectations and intentions, even when backed by five-star hotels and promissory notes and government subsidies qualify for UNESCO designations. Functioning is the ultimate criteria, not simply a building, or complex. Those who want to pursue illusions are free to do so. It is when attempts are made to stuff such illusions with the palpable life labour of others as credentials that we are forced to bring the House of Cards crashing down on their heads.
Facts, Prince Oyinlola? There are plenty more, but we’ll reserve them for the effective time and place. My advice to you is that you stick to the guardianship and preservation of those archives when they arrive in Oshogbo – at least, while you’re still governor. For the unfinished part of this tawdry business, the dateline is October/November, UNESCO, Paris. We’ll see you there, with your entourage – or whoever is governor. In the meantime, let the appropriate Ministry – and public – take stock of all the bits and pieces the nation has managed to salvage from FESTAC. A Press conference, foreign architects in attendance, has already bragged of building a museum in the Library complex. New functions for a Presidential Library are being touted that were not canvassed during the extortionist exercise that launched the five-star hotel and yet-to-be-created Institutes. Experts, scholars and diplomats are already under recruitment. Tracks are being laid to ease the passage of FESTAC archives into the baskets of the Presidential Laundromat, upon whose porous containers the UNESCO recognition as a cultural estate will now be based. Mischief is yet afoot, let no one be deceived.
There are some guests, when they leave the house, you have to count the forks and knives.
Pastor Ayo
26 August 2008 02:38Wonders shall never end. OBJ likes to reap where he did not sow. This was how the man took land from the owners all over the country. Asewere nko oro jo lai ma eniti o maa lo, says the Bible.
Jide Ojo
26 August 2008 16:41Vintage WS! May God preserve you for us in sound health. If not for your whistle-blowing effort, our commonwealth would have long been totally appropriated by our greedy and expired rulers.
Folami Kollyjoe
26 August 2008 16:52Prof thank you for the illumination. But what I fail to understand is that after stealing the national patrimony what do unemployed despots actually want with other peoples material testimony of hardwork. I think it is not people like Ulli Beier that are the target but the very people whose lives will be impacted by Beier’s work. For those people they must always be kept in state of AMNESIA.
shema gaskin
1 September 2008 18:13Dear Prof, Nigerians will forever be grateful to people like you at a time like these when there is real poverty of everything in the land, People are ready to sell anything , even their hard earn knowlegde on the alter of mediocrity, intellectual hunger had gripped the land and even the Academics are begging the politician in the land just for food, selling there hard earn knowlegde to politicial and doing the AGIP (ANY GOVERNMENT IN POWER) SERVICE. When the truth is revealed at the UNESCO LEVEL how will these people see the blacks, may God deliver this country from all the various type of hungers. Please counsel the prof, (ambassador) Omolewa, life will continue after BABA IYABO, he is just marking time, OH GOD ,SAVE NIGERIA.
Seyi Oduyela
3 September 2008 14:33It is interesting that our so-called elder statesmen pick what to say, who to talk about and when to talk. Professor Wole Soyinka is from Ogun state, and he is talkign about Oyinlola of Osun state. Do not get me wrong, this is Nigeria and Prof is a Nigerian; so he can talk about anybody or anything Nigerian. But according to Yoruba ” Ile lati n ko eso r’ode-” “Charity begins at home.” The Professor may claim no to know that Gbenga Daniel has misgoverned and still misgoverning Ogun state, Professor Soyinka’s home state, but he can see Oyinlola in Osun.
After the “election” of Yar”Adua, Professor Soyinka led a team of his guys to the US to address the US Senate on Nigeria’s election asking them to cancel the election and call for a fresh one. That was so ridiculous. He led Ken Nnamani who was then the Senate President to do it. In Zimbabwe the opposition leader did nto come to the US to seek US support against Mugabe, in Kenya the opposition did not come to US to do same. They stayed in their countries to solve their problems.
I am sick and tired of the selective criticism and subjective attacks. why does teh Professor pick and choose who to criticize at his convenience pretending not to see others? Or insulting the intelligence of Ogun State indigenes by praising Gbenga Daniels?
PEOPLES VOICE
3 September 2008 17:50GOD WILL NEVER COME DOWN ON EARTH BECAUSE OF NIGERIANS
GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE HIS PLANS ON CREATION BECAUSE OF NIGERIANS
GOD WILL NEVER CHANGE HIS HONEST WAYS BECAUSE OF NIGERIANS
NIGERIANS MUST CHANGE TO HONOUR GOD´S HONEST WAYS OF CREATION WHICH IS SIMPILY TRUTH.
PEOPLES VOICE
3 September 2008 17:55THE FATE, FUTURE, AND SUCESS OF NIGERIA LIES IN THE HANDS OF US ALL NIGERIANS
we must find out the truth of nature.
Bami Sonubi
5 September 2008 12:19Mr Seyi Odubela, I think you totally missed the point if we all stick to your logic, then our opinions will probably be connected to
small ” personal and parochial issues.
Professor Wole Soyinka is world renowned authority on culture it will be a great diservice to humanity if according to your logic he only
comments on Abeokuta or Isara issues.
Mr Odubela please in the future stick to the main issues and stop expounding silly illogisms.
Lawal Ayantayo
5 September 2008 17:52Prof , Ile ti a ba fi ito mo eeri , ni o woo . That is another wonder of the world may be we make it an abstract or an addendum to the wonders Essay pal`s reported in the Exile, wonderful Ashtabula !.
Botherless about the sycophant Gomina with his pentomime dance under strobe lights , their myopic nature deprive them of your UNESCO Ambassadoria responsibility and the Nigerian in you .
Keep to be on their toes for the facts, a custodian of tradition, culture and Art in general as to be of exemplary Xters but not .? God help us .
Bro. Wale Adewumi
5 September 2008 22:48I am writing in response to Seyi Oduyela’s vitriolic attack on Prof. Wole Soyinka’s whistle blowing wisdom concerning the proper repository for the artifacts from the Elderly Uli Beier. First, may the good Lord preserve the life of our dearly beloved Prof. Soyinka for many generations to come. Second, Seyi, in his posting, demonstrated acute somnabulism. Or maybe he is too young to know the real history of who actually qualifies to comment on the obvious rape of our Nigerian culture. For his enlightenment, may I point out to Seyi that the good Nobel laureate is more than qualified to issue an opinion, albeit, criticism of the actions of the embattled governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. My recollections go back to the decades of the mid-fifties and sixties with Prof. Uli Beier as lecturer at Nigeria’s foremost institution of higher learning, the University of Ibadan. I recall seeing, as a child then, the good professor along with a few others on their infrequent trips to Osogbo and Ilobu. I know that because I saw them on many occasions at the late Uncle Duro Ladipo’s theatre, Mbari Mbayo on Catholic Mission (Popo) Street. It was not something I was told about, but that which I witnessed in person. I could see them in action because my ancestral home was and still is directly across the street from the Mbari Club and we as children expressed great admiration for the likes of the now eminent professor and nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and all they were doing then.
For the sake of the likes of Seyi Oduyela, may I submit that the nobel laureate is not to be limited to the affairs of his native Ogun State, but he is a true son of Nigeria and a dearly begotten son of Oduduwa land of which Osogbo is a vital province. Prof. Soyinka is well qualified to scrutinize the actions of Governor Oyinlola regarding the proper sacntuary for the precious relics secured from Prof. Uli Beier. Seyi is too young and uneducated to know the roots of such things or appreciate their value to the peoples of the world. Wisdom, especially Yoruba wisdom, requires that Seyi do his homework and get his facts straight before lauching his tribalistic tirades of the venerable professor. To quote a Yoruba proverb, “B’omode ba m’owo we, a b’agba jeun.” Obviously, the likes of Seyi are the gra gra kind who are bereft of respect for hoary heads.
I duff my hat to Prof. Soyinka who has never failed to stop me in my tracks to soak up the wisdom emanating from his storehouse. My last face to face with him and others of the patriotic cadre was Oslo ‘97. Even as we waited in line to pick our plate of fresh fair for the Japanese grill, words the professor spoke were all worth absorbing. I counsel Seyi to buy of wisdom that is tried and true; the wisdom that is not afraid to confront dictators and despots. Prof. Soyinka is a true citizen of the globe, to say the least. Seyi, femme la porte. Let wisdom reign!
Aji Mitchell
6 September 2008 19:23Mr. Odubela is intellectually deficient. His reasoning faculty is lower than that of a mongol thus he could not see beyond his nose. Wole Shoyinka is a patriot and not a boot licker. He speaks the truth always no matter whose toe is hurt.
Efeturi Ojakaminor
7 September 2008 21:29No lie lives forever. Sooner or later all those who have stolen and milked Nigeria dry will be exposed. OBJ and his cohorts have taken enough for the owner (Nigerians) to see. They will end up in ignominy. This country sorely needs the various Wole Soyinkas, Okey Ndibes and the Dele Sobowales.
Benedict Oladipo
8 September 2008 19:10It is always instructive to tap from Prof. Soyinka wealth of experience and knowledge. It is also gratifying to know many people appreciate the sense of patrotism of Prof. Soyinka. In as much as one is free to voice ones opinion on issues, I think people like Seyi Odubela needs more education. In this crucial time of nation building and repositioning of nations values, parochial and myopic assesment of issues will not help. Thanks Prof.
olowofela olalekan
8 September 2008 20:40There is no peace with the wicked says the Holy words of the living God.Anyone who fails to accept Jesus Christ is a wicked person and the end of such people is eternal perdition.Obasanjo,Soyinka and the rest,what we need is Jesus Christ.Nobody can do good without salvation.Until you are washed with the blood of Lamb slain from the foundation of the world before you become righteous.We have one way or the other duped this nation called Nigeria and hence a thiet calling another person a thief amounts to mockery.
olowofela olalekan
8 September 2008 21:47There is no peace with the wicked says the Holy words of the living God.Anyone who fails to accept Jesus Christ is a wicked person and the end of such people is eternal perdition.Obasanjo,Soyinka and the rest,what we need is Jesus Christ.Nobody can do good without salvation.Until you are washed with the blood of Lamb slain from the foundation of the world you cant become righteous.We have one way or the other duped this nation called Nigeria and hence a thiet calling another person a thief amounts to mockery.To call a spade a spade,Nigeria as a nation has failed because her people have failed.Consequently let us come back to our ceator and settle our differences with Him.His is willing to pardon us.
tunde4praise
14 September 2008 23:14The Oyinlola of this world knows from the bottom of their hearts that they are bunch of liars but yet they still think we can tease the public to believe their folktales. Honestly I don’t believe in Oyinlola governorship and I also not expecting anything good from him, other than steal our hard earned money. As for Prof. Wole Soyinka, He had always been our source of inspiration. We Aknowledge his incorruptible stance which he had demonstrated many times. A thousand Oyinlola can never dent the image of our own nobel laurettt which he had cultivated for so long.
Toks Ogunbiyi
17 September 2008 12:37I fail to understand Seyi Oduyela…..I really do! He is saying that Soyinka should not hold a view on Oyinlola because he has not held a similar or identical view on Gbenga Daniel? Soyinka was not speaking or writing about a particular state but rather an important international issue that concerns the archives of Ulli Beier who even those who are not of the community of the arts know well concerning their work in Nigeria over a long period of time.
Now the whole issue with UNESCO is too important and affects the image and the international self respect of Nigeria to be treated as though it were an Osun State or any state matter.
Nigeria and its leaders owe a duty to create and establish in the international comity of nations an abiding commitment to integrity and probity. This current issue smacks of an obscenity which must be corrected and soon. Whoever is determined to ensure that Nigeria does the ‘right thing’ by UNESCO and the Beiers deserves respect, recognition and support, not vilification and criticism.
Mr Oduyela please adjust your thinking cap.