Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has denied involvement in any move to intervene in the crisis currently engulfing the Niger Delta region.
The Publicity Secretary of the Pro-National Conference Organisations, Mr. Wale Okuniyi, had in a statement on Wednesday claimed that Soyinka and elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, would meet with militants in the region as part of efforts to stem the wave of violence in the area.
Okuniyi said the duo were concerned by the violence in the region and had concluded arrangements to hold talks with the militants to persuade them to lay down their arms and allow peace to reign.
But in a strongly worded e-mail addressed to Okuniyi, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Sunday, Soyinka demanded a retraction from him, adding that his (Okuniyi�s) conduct was disrespectful, despicable and insultive.
He said, �If the claims attributed to you are indeed true, then there is something really screwy about your thinking and projections.
�How dare you claim that Chief Enahoro and I have discussed the Niger Delta issue and taken joint decisions when I have told you, unambiguously, that under no circumstances will I ever undertake any project in association with Chief Enahoro, to whom I have also made this position clear, and in writing.
�I find your conduct disrespectful, despicable and insulting. I have put a lot of your shenanigans down to youthful enthusiasm and a background of student activism of the crude school. It has become increasingly clear, however, that you have deep schemes of your own.
�What these persistent attempted manipulations are about, only you know. I want myself excluded from them, and immediately. If I do not obtain an apology from you, and a guarantee to desist for the future, I shall proceed to denounce and dismantle you publicly. The consequences be on your head.�
Soyinka claimed that on his last visit home, he had a prolonged conversation with Okuniyi in which he (Soyinka) made it clear to him that any formal relation with PRONACO and its activities was over.
He said, �For that very reason, I refused to accede to your urging that a meeting, an urgent meeting, be summoned by me to discuss �the way forward� with the draft constitution.
�I went further and refused to hold a direct meeting with you, stressing that there was no point, and that everything you wished to discuss with me could be done on telephone.�
Aug272007