Soyinka: Why I don’t use social media

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he does not use social media.

Soyinka, who said the wrong usage of technology is fast taking humanity backward due to the use of profiling and abusive words, disclosed that he doesn’t have a Twitter account or WhatsApp.

The famous playwright said this at the unveiling of his latest interventions volume, titled, ‘The Putin Files’, in Lagos on Friday, June 16.

Soyinka stressed that he is not a fan of social media, saying: “I don’t tweet, I don’t WhatsApp. I tried WhatsApp but I stopped.”

Reading from the book, he added: “Project Nigeria, I must confess, has become near terminally soul-searing. Do I still believe in it? I am no longer certain, but first, we must rid ourselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers.

“In any case, there is not much else to engage one on a foundation of ownership stakes. There is, of course, always the possibility of a revolution, with a clarity of purpose and acceptance of all attendant risks, including costly errors.

“Revolutions are not, however, based on the impetus of speculative power entitlement. No matter, until that moment, the structures that ensure just and equitable cohabitation must be protected from partisan appropriation – be it from material inducement, fake news, or verbal terrorism – the last being the contribution of one who is positioned to assume co-leadership of the nation, no less.”

Soyinka added that the whole concept of democracy needs to be re-examined.

The Star