By Dr. Kayode Ajulo
I read in utter shock and disappointment when our very revered literary
icon, Prof Wole Soyinka openly threatened to destroy his American Green
Card in protest of Donald Trump’s victory at the just concluded United
States Presidential election which held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
‘
I am also aware that Prof. Soyinka issued this threat before voting begun
in the hotly contested election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Most people around the World, including some huge population of Americans,
had wished for the Democratic Party’s candidate to win the race to the
White House, but politics is just like a football game of football whereby
a team wins and the opponent concedes.
The Green Card is the U.S. permanent residence permit, Governments around
the world don’t toy with this important document, just like International
Passport, Coat of Arms, Military Standard, National Flag, etc, high
premium of value is placed on these national symbols. Honestly I found it
preposterous that Soyinka would pledge to keep a promise he had given a
few days before the Nov. 8 election, when he told students at Oxford
University that “I will cut my green card myself and start packing up” if
Trump won the polls. He also vowed to leave the United States by Jan. 20,
2017, the day president-elect Donald Trump will be officially inaugurated.
However, with no intent to disparage our respected octogenarian, I think
it is also important to guide him properly on the legal implications of
his misguided outburst. It is good to vent and express one’s displeasure
over anything, but this must be done with caution and good choice of words
so as not to step into some dangerous legal pitfalls. Let me state
categorically that our well exposed noble laureate risks a jail term of
three to seven years, if he eventually destroys his Green Card. Can we
therefore say he doesn’t know that Green Cards or passports are valuable
documents that should be looked after with care?
In my view and that of other political pundits, Trump’s victory had
brought an already teetering world closer to the precipice. Trump’s wall
is already under construction. Walls are built in the mind, and Trump has
erected walls, not only across the mental landscape of America, but across
the global landscape. We can only pray for the best in our world.
With due respect I have no problem with Kongi; he is an opinion molder,
human rights activist, an elder statesman, a torchbearer and nation
builder, I expect him to know the implication(s) of such act. Under the
American law losing or having your U.S. Green Card destroyed can be a
serious problem. Such is tagged as wishful destruction of government’s
property. Prof. Soyinka is far better and far bigger than that because
such act is provocative and unacceptable. It is an extension of his rights
to leave United States, but does not have to tear the card; instead he
should return the card as required by the law.
I am surprised that at 82, a Professor of Literature and author of many
books, who is currently a resident scholar at New York University’s
Institute of African American Affairs, would drag his name and integrity
in the mud, sadly this has lots of implications for Nigerians. In fact
mishandling of passport could stop someone from travelling not to talk of
destroying Green Card. We know Soyinka as a good Ambassador who cares not
just about Nigeria but the world at large, I will advise him to keep to
it. His conduct must always champion decency or decorum that one could be
proud of at all times.
How can we forget so soon that Cultism in Nigeria tertiary institutions
dates back to Professor Wole Soyinka’s undergraduate days, when he
organized a cult group named Pirate Confraternity with the help of some
friends of his. Their aim of forming the cult group was to bridge the gap
created by ethnicity and tribalism, but along the line our youths hijacked
this purpose and started doing it for negative agenda.
Up to date consequences of cultism on individuals make them live in
perpetual bondage and fear; this is because cultists are always watching
their backs because rival cults are always at ‘war’. They are always
destructive, merciless, stubborn and wicked; so a well-mannered individual
that indulges in cultism will automatically transform his good behavior to
an ill behaved person. Most cultists have no regards for moral and values.
As a result of one belonging to a cult, he/she will lose respect for that
which is morally right, e.g. respect for elders. Premature death may occur
because cultists are liable to die young, possible expulsion from school.
I can go on and on. All of these vices could be directly or indirectly
linked to Prof. Soyinka.
This reminds me of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who after enjoying
two-terms of eight years in office as Nigeria’s President on the platform
of Peoples Democratic Party allegedly tore his party’s membership card
publicly. Although he later refuted this allegation and put the record
straight explaining that he did not engage himself in such act. Of course
Obasanjo knew the legal implication(s) of destroying such important
document. Prof. Wole Soyinka should swallow his pride and rescind his
decision.
If Soyinka was so much displeased with Trump’s presidency, he can stand by
the sideline and hit him with constructive criticisms and not by
destroying the Green Card which is not Donald Trump’s property and he
should as well note that the Green Card is a privilege to him not his
right.
Dr. Kayode Ajulo was National Secretary, Labour Party, Chairman,
Egalitarian Mission Africa & Principal Partner, Castle of Law.
From the Office of:
‘KAYODE A. AJULO, LL.B. (Hons.) LL.M., B.L., MNIM., fcl
Principal Partner; Dean of Research & Practice,
KAYODE AJULO & CO. CASTLE OF LAW
(Legal Practitioners/Consultants)
Abuja – NIGERIA