The media must be used effectively to reach the masses. You have to find a new language in which to address the people and demonstrate what is possible. Wole Soyinka More Quotes by Wole Soyinka More Quotes From Wole Soyinka I am disturbed for instance when I read that a candidate said, 'I will not probe anybody or something like that'. You don't fight corruption by sweeping everything under the carpet, you don't. Wole Soyinka disturbed corruption fighting There's a lot of insincerity about the actions of our legislators; they create distractions - like this anti-gay law you alluded to - and try to mobilise, to exacerbate people's emotions. Until the legislators started making laws, people minded, generally, their own business. Wole Soyinka action trying people We live in the real world - we live within a certain history of the plague that has landed on us. Wole Soyinka real-world real world I grew up with a very strong sense of what is just and what is not or, to put it this way, I grew up with a keen sense of a division, the reality of a division of perception in people's lives between those who govern and those who govern. Wole Soyinka strong reality people The youth should come together to challenge the status quo. They must not give up. Wole Soyinka giving-up challenges together We must acknowledge that we made a huge error in satisfying the lowest common denominator of the available human potential in Nigeria and we elevated what I call the reign of mediocrity. Quite frankly, I think it is about repudiating the past, creating space for new thinking for the best of the new generation, creating both political and geographical space and going at it with single mindedness that says, 'enough of buttering, sentiments and massaging the ego of the old brigade'. Wole Soyinka space past thinking Next to the commodities of corruption, and religion, however, Nigeria is the world capital of rumour mongering. Wole Soyinka next corruption world I tend to work best as a one-man Task Force, including even the roles of messenger, coffee maker and office cleaner. Wole Soyinka coffee office men The Egba kingdom was one of the very last to be ceded to the British protectorate. It remained almost an independent entity within what is now known as Nigeria, simply because of its own traditional structure of governance. Wole Soyinka independent lasts kingdoms I was born into a Christian household, in a parsonage in fact, so I grew up in sort of a missionary atmosphere but it was an environment which involved both the traditional religions as well as the Muslim religion, so we were exposed to all the various facets of faith, micro cultures which existed within those beliefs, and even though I've lost whatever Christian faith was drummed into me as a child, I still maintain very good relationship with all the various religions. Wole Soyinka good-relationship christian children It is not fair to those who fight corruption that they have to fight the aggressiveness, the impunity of the corrupt. Wole Soyinka fairs corruption fighting If you are corrupt and you have extra cash you are able to shut the mouth of your accuser and they will be silenced. Wole Soyinka cash able mouths Religion is all based on the mentality of "I'm right", but now today it's moved from even the question of "I'm right and I'm willing to tolerate those who agree that I am right or those who don't disturb me anyway". Now, it's a question of "If you do not accept that I'm right, I have a right to kill you". That is the mentality of religious fundamentalism today. That is the meaning of the kind of terror which we are witnessing today, that everybody is expendable who do not actually physically line up behind me. Wole Soyinka lines religious today Don't feel that you have to tailor your literature a particular way to please any school of ideology. There will emerge in its own right, effortlessly, some kind of ideological direction which is a reflection of your thinking and you want your thinking, above all. Wole Soyinka reflection school thinking I am a very curious person; I'll always ask: is this thing true, is it not true? And I use my own means to investigate and come to my conclusion. Wole Soyinka curious use mean As a president, you've got to show some example. I am disturbed for instance when I read that a candidate said, 'I will not probe anybody or something like that'. You don't fight corruption by sweeping everything under the carpet, you don't. You just say, am going to allow the law take its course; I am going to empower the agencies which has been set up for such specific purpose of stemming the corrupt out flow of resources from this nation and don't even talk to me about corruption beyond saying you going to strengthen existing institutions. Wole Soyinka agency fighting law Society itself is responsible for the degradation. Wole Soyinka responsible Sadly however, I discovered in one particular case that a colleague went and paid the bribe on my behalf, just to get our mission fulfilled. That was painful, and it strained our friendship. Wole Soyinka bribe painful I never know who's influencing me at any time. I mean, I can take a play by Brecht and adapt it, I'm consciously adapting that play, or, as I've done with the Greek classics, Euripides and Oedipus, and I'm consciously adapting that play. Whether it influences me or not, I think it's the critics, the analysts who have to decide that. Me, I don't feel that I'm under the influence of any such sources. Wole Soyinka play mean thinking My definition of slavery is the deprivation of human volition, any form of relationship between two peoples which is based on the deprivation of volition of one side. Wole Soyinka slavery
