Dr Charles Apoki, a Nigerian-American physician, has publicly questioned Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, regarding his influence over the Pyrate Confraternity, an organisation Soyinka founded.
In a viral viral on social media, Dr. Apoki emphasizes that the younger generation of Nigerians is ready to scrutinize everyone and everything.
He voiced the frustrations of many Nigerians who are tired of corruption and stagnation in the country, suggesting that Soyinka’s silence on these issues might be due to some restraint.
He compared social media to a public restroom, advising those who cannot handle its harshness to follow Bola Tinubu’s lead in avoiding it.
While acknowledging Soyinka’s past contributions, Dr. Apoki asserted that Soyinka’s era is over, warning that future challenges will be more than just verbal confrontations.
Soyinka’s controversial reputation partly stems from his role in founding the Pyrate Confraternity at the University of Ibadan in 1952.
According to NNNewsMedia, Originally a literary and social club, the organization evolved into a more militant group, engaging in violent and intimidating activities, which led to its ban in Nigerian universities.
Despite Soyinka distancing himself from the Pyrate Confraternity in recent years, some believe he bears some responsibility for the cultism problem in Nigerian universities today.
This cultism, marked by extortion, violence, and murder, disrupts academic life and instills fear among students.
Apoki said: “They recently sang a song, ‘Hand dey shake, leg dey shake, papa wey no get leg, e dey shout Emilokan,’ directed against Bola Tinubu.
“Your Pyrate confraternity sang that song against Tinubu. What did you say? Did that disqualify you, Prof. Wole Soyinka, from heading an organization?
“If you were appointed, would that disqualify you? how much control do you have over the activities of the Pyrate confraternity you formed?
“Peter Obi did not form the Obedient Movement; it emerged from people who were tired of the corruption and backwardness of our nation.
“Would someone have disqualified you from winning the Nobel Prize because of your involvement in Pyrate confraternities like seadogs or Black Axe? Would it prevent you from winning the Nobel Prize?”
