By Dr. Kayode Ajulo<\/p>\n
I read in utter shock and disappointment when our very revered literary
\nicon, Prof Wole Soyinka openly threatened to destroy his American Green
\nCard in protest of Donald Trump\u2019s victory at the just concluded United
\nStates Presidential election which held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
\n‘
\nI am also aware that Prof. Soyinka issued this threat before voting begun
\nin the hotly contested election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
\nMost people around the World, including some huge population of Americans,
\nhad wished for the Democratic Party\u2019s candidate to win the race to the
\nWhite House, but politics is just like a football game of football whereby
\na team wins and the opponent concedes.<\/p>\n
The Green Card is the U.S. permanent residence permit, Governments around
\nthe world don\u2019t toy with this important document, just like International
\nPassport, Coat of Arms, Military Standard, National Flag, etc, high
\npremium of value is placed on these national symbols. Honestly I found it
\npreposterous that Soyinka would pledge to keep a promise he had given a
\nfew days before the Nov. 8 election, when he told students at Oxford
\nUniversity that \u201cI will cut my green card myself and start packing up\u201d if
\nTrump won the polls. He also vowed to leave the United States by Jan. 20,
\n2017, the day president-elect Donald Trump will be officially inaugurated.<\/p>\n
However, with no intent to disparage our respected octogenarian, I think
\nit is also important to guide him properly on the legal implications of
\nhis misguided outburst. It is good to vent and express one\u2019s displeasure
\nover anything, but this must be done with caution and good choice of words
\nso as not to step into some dangerous legal pitfalls. Let me state
\ncategorically that our well exposed noble laureate risks a jail term of
\nthree to seven years, if he eventually destroys his Green Card. Can we
\ntherefore say he doesn\u2019t know that Green Cards or passports are valuable
\ndocuments that should be looked after with care?<\/p>\n
In my view and that of other political pundits, Trump\u2019s victory had
\nbrought an already teetering world closer to the precipice. Trump\u2019s wall
\nis already under construction. Walls are built in the mind, and Trump has
\nerected walls, not only across the mental landscape of America, but across
\nthe global landscape. We can only pray for the best in our world.<\/p>\n
With due respect I have no problem with Kongi; he is an opinion molder,
\nhuman rights activist, an elder statesman, a torchbearer and nation
\nbuilder, I expect him to know the implication(s) of such act. Under the
\nAmerican law losing or having your U.S. Green Card destroyed can be a
\nserious problem. Such is tagged as wishful destruction of government\u2019s
\nproperty. Prof. Soyinka is far better and far bigger than that because
\nsuch act is provocative and unacceptable. It is an extension of his rights
\nto leave United States, but does not have to tear the card; instead he
\nshould return the card as required by the law.<\/p>\n
I am surprised that at 82, a Professor of Literature and author of many
\nbooks, who is currently a resident scholar at New York University\u2019s
\nInstitute of African American Affairs, would drag his name and integrity
\nin the mud, sadly this has lots of implications for Nigerians. In fact
\nmishandling of passport could stop someone from travelling not to talk of
\ndestroying Green Card. We know Soyinka as a good Ambassador who cares not
\njust about Nigeria but the world at large, I will advise him to keep to
\nit. His conduct must always champion decency or decorum that one could be
\nproud of at all times.<\/p>\n
How can we forget so soon that Cultism in Nigeria tertiary institutions
\ndates back to Professor Wole Soyinka\u2019s undergraduate days, when he
\norganized a cult group named Pirate Confraternity with the help of some
\nfriends of his. Their aim of forming the cult group was to bridge the gap
\ncreated by ethnicity and tribalism, but along the line our youths hijacked
\nthis purpose and started doing it for negative agenda.<\/p>\n
Up to date consequences of cultism on individuals make them live in
\nperpetual bondage and fear; this is because cultists are always watching
\ntheir backs because rival cults are always at \u2018war\u2019. They are always
\ndestructive, merciless, stubborn and wicked; so a well-mannered individual
\nthat indulges in cultism will automatically transform his good behavior to
\nan ill behaved person. Most cultists have no regards for moral and values.<\/p>\n
As a result of one belonging to a cult, he\/she will lose respect for that
\nwhich is morally right, e.g. respect for elders. Premature death may occur
\nbecause cultists are liable to die young, possible expulsion from school.
\nI can go on and on. All of these vices could be directly or indirectly
\nlinked to Prof. Soyinka.<\/p>\n
This reminds me of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who after enjoying
\ntwo-terms of eight years in office as Nigeria\u2019s President on the platform
\nof Peoples Democratic Party allegedly tore his party\u2019s membership card
\npublicly. Although he later refuted this allegation and put the record
\nstraight explaining that he did not engage himself in such act. Of course
\nObasanjo knew the legal implication(s) of destroying such important
\ndocument. Prof. Wole Soyinka should swallow his pride and rescind his
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
If Soyinka was so much displeased with Trump\u2019s presidency, he can stand by
\nthe sideline and hit him with constructive criticisms and not by
\ndestroying the Green Card which is not Donald Trump\u2019s property and he
\nshould as well note that the Green Card is a privilege to him not his
\nright.
\nDr. Kayode Ajulo was National Secretary, Labour Party, Chairman,
\nEgalitarian Mission Africa & Principal Partner, Castle of Law.
\nFrom the\u00a0Office of:<\/p>\n
‘KAYODE A. AJULO, LL.B. (Hons.) LL.M., B.L., MNIM., fcl
\nPrincipal Partner; Dean of Research & Practice,
\nKAYODE AJULO & CO. CASTLE OF LAW
\n(Legal Practitioners\/Consultants)
\nAbuja – NIGERIA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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