By Sunday Aikulola
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has again expressed concern over the negative use of technology and social media in recent times.
Speaking during the unveiling of his latest interventions volume, titled: “The Putin Files,” held at Freedom Park yesterday, he averred that technology is in the hands of ignoramuses.
He said that technology is taking humanity backwards due to the use of profiling and abusive words.
He said: “I don’t tweet, I don’t WhatsApp. I tried WhatsApp but I stopped.”
Taking extracts from the book, Soyinka said, “Project Nigeria, I must confess, has become near terminally soul-searing. Do I still believe in it? I am no longer certain, but first we must rid ourselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers.
“In any case, there is not much else to engage one on a foundation of ownership stakes. There is, of course, always the possibility of a revolution, with a clarity of purpose and acceptance of all attendant risks, including costly errors.
“Revolutions are not, however, based on the impetus of speculative power entitlement. No matter, until that moment, the structures that ensures just and equitable cohabitation must be protected from partisan appropriation – be it from material inducement, fake news or verbal terrorism – the last being the contribution of one who is positioned to assume co-leadership of the nation, no less.”
Noting that the whole concept of democracy needs to be re-examined, he added: “Revolution is not about lining up behind nearest available symbol. When a symbol does emerge, however, we are still obliged to examine every aspect of what is fortuitously an offer, and continue to guard our freedoms every inch of the way.”
He said Putin, as used in his book, is a metaphor and reality, adding: “We can’t be shielded from what is hap
pening.”
He described EndSARS as one of the most successful movements in this country because it was based on truth.
Source: The Guardian
