- By Halimah Olamide
Son of the late Governor of old Oyo State and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, Muyiwa, has described as a Godfather Extraordinaire, the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
Soyinka clocked 90 on Saturday July 13, 2024.
In his tribute on the 90th birthday of Soyinka, Ige reiterated what he called “the enduring relationship between his family and the literary icon.”
Noting that Soyinka had been his godfather since his Anglican baptism in 1967, Muyiwa described Soyinka as a trustworthy, dedicated, loyal, and faithful friend to the late Chief Bola Ige and his family, and has been a strong pillar of support.
Muyiwa, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) underscored the significant impact that Soyinka had on his own life and mentioned that his father had given him the name “Olumuyiwa Oluwole Ige” as a tribute to Professor Soyinka, whose name “Oluwole” served as the inspiration for the gesture.
The former Osun State Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development pointed out that Professor Wole Soyinka and Chief Bola Ige shared a strong commitment to social justice, democracy, human rights and significantly stood up to tyranny and corruption, even at personal risk.
According to him, this was in addition to their shared vision, and enduring influence on Nigerian society.
“Professor Soyinka has had a profound influence on the literary community and beyond in a variety of ways, including through his contributions to theatre, literature, and social justice. He and my father had a bond that went beyond academic interests. Undoubtedly, the bond was strong, founded in common principles and a dedication to improving both Nigeria and the global community”, he stated.
He wished his godfather extraordinaire, Professor Wole Soyinka, sustained health, and many more extraordinary years as he celebrates his 90th birthday.
His elder, Mrs Funsho Adegbola, had earlier penned a tribute in an article titled Happy 90th birthday WS, my dad’s true friend.