Nigeria has been sucked dry, Prof Wole Soyinka Said

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NOBEL Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka Saturday added colour to the country's political landscape as he emerged as National Chairman of the newly-formed Democratic Front for a Peoples Federation (DFPF), saying it will concentrate on particular states and local councils.

Speaking shortly after his election as the party's helmsman at its maiden convention in Lagos yesterday, Soyinka said DFPF's mission was to sanitize and transform Nigeria's democracy. He however pointed out that DFPF, for now, will not vie for elective positions at the centre. Instead, he said, the party would focus on winning certain local councils and states, where it would strive to make impact.

Soyinka explained, "But after taking control in one state, one council, one ward, we would begin to reach out through example to others, gradually evolving a civic rule that governs and performs through mutual collaboration." The DFPF boss, however, did not mention the party's particular targets in the coming poll. Soyinka said DFPF's approach was practised in many parts of the world.

"Let this party resolve to overturn the iniquitous arrangement by which the national cake is swallowed entirely by those whose appointed task is to serve the sovereign electorate," Soyinka said.

According to him, "these, and other anomalies, will occupy the minds of this new party and their associates until the full transformation and re-humanization of the nation."

He also said DFPF was ready to work with parties whose manifestoes are in the spirit DFPF.

He disclosed that Beko Ransome-Kuti and Chima Ubani, both deceased, were founding members of the party, which was denied registration when it was first founded in 2002.

At the convention which took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the famous Niger Delta female activist, Ankio Briggs, and the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerrima Shettima, were elected Woman Leader and Vice-Chairman (North East) respectively in absentia.

In a goodwill message, the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said that he was at the convention to identify with Soyinka. Other personalities at the convention included Mr Tony Uranta of the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, Afenifere Renewal Group spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin and Dr Joe Odumakin of Campaign for Democracy (CD), among others.

Nigeria has been sucked dry, says Soyinka

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Really dry! Nigeria with good people but bad leaders that have caused bad influence on the people (followers)...