My new book will “draw blood” - Prof Soyinka

Playwright and Essayist, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Saturday disclosed that he wants to “draw blood” with his latest book, InterInventions.

Soyinka said it is his own tool of “vengeance” against “unprovoked assault of public lies,” many of which were directed against him.

The Nobel Laureate who disclosed this in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, in his remark at the formal inauguration of The Wole Soyinka Foundation, a retreat haven for writers, described InterInventions as “the nastiest book” he has ever written.

The 130  – page literary work  – InterInventions, Between Defective Memory and Public Lie, A Personal Odyssey in The Republic of Liars, was presented to the public at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, by the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiohmole.

Soyinka said the book is “so truthful that it hurts” and recommended it to people who “feel vengeful” towards purveyors of public lies because of its expected therapeutic value.

“(InterInventions), it is the nastiest book I have ever written. It is so truthful that it hurts… it is my vengeance against public lies. It is not one of the butterfly books, no, it is not a butterfly book.

“I want to draw blood (with it). I’m warning all of you, if you feel vengeful, read this book and you will be alright. It is like homeopathic medicine,” Soyinka said.

He noted that public lies have become an industry of sort, multiplying itself and is even being made worse by the internet age technology that is now facilitating the predisposition for lies.

In page seven of the book, he decried public lies – “lies of staggering impudence, especially considering the fact that, in most cases, both victims and their traducers are still living.”

According to him, there is the need for a “ritual of  public purgation where both sides – such victims of lies and the traducers, are brought together before the public tribunal for the world to know the truth.

In the book, Soyinka also gave insight into lies, allegedly, told him by some individuals, past nation leaders including former Governor Gbenga Daniel, stating in first paragraph of page 82 that “it was a great fun(for him, Soyinka) to watch him(Daniel) lie his head off.”

He revealed why he was able to keep his sanity as a creative writer in midst of “unprovoked assault” of public lies, saying he “would have gone insane” if he had not found a serene place to hide himself while doing his creative work.

In his remark, Oshiohmole described Soyinka as a great and relentless fighter, saying the nation needs social warriors who speak the truth without giving a hoot to whose ox is gored.

The Governor who attended the event in the company of his wife, added that The Wole Soyinka Foundation is a worthy cause that should be identified with by Nigerians.

In attendance at the Foundation inauguration were Govetnor Ibikunle Amosun represented by the Secretary to the state government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, ex – governors Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Donald Duke, Mr Odia Ofeimun, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo among others.