Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and former Governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, have resumed their squabble over the chairmanship of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, in Osogbo.
Although Wole Soyinka, is the present chairman of the board, he has accused Oyinlola of perpetuating himself as the chairman of the centre’s board of trustees.
Oyinlola had wanted to continue as the board chairman, based on a clause in the original law that established the CBIU, however, the state House of Assembly amended the law to stop the permanent chairmanship in 2012, and Governor Aregbesola, appointed Soyinka as chairman.
However, a planned international conference set to hold at the centre, has unearthed a fresh round of conflict between Soyinka and Oyinlola.
Soyinka held a press conference at the Freedom Park on Tuesday, warning Oyinlola against presenting himself as the chairman.
He said it was unethical for any office holder to claim perpetual ownership or leadership of any institution built with public funds.
Soyinka also blamed the absence of a foreign minister for the crisis, while he also called on President Buhari to intervene and caution Oyinlola.
He said, “My immediate contribution to that debate shall be phrased along the same terms as I addressed Madame Bokova in Kazakhstan (of UNESCO).
Only that, this time, it is addressed to this nation’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, who has unusually elevated the anti-corruption struggle to the very top of his governance agenda.
I must warn President Buhari – in the absence of a foreign minister – that the nation is being dragged into a sleazy situation through the attempted co-option of its foreign missions into logistical support for their global enterprises.
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