The Nobel laureate, Prof. Role Soyinka, returned to his satirical elements on Saturday when he commented on an error he recently made concerning the sitting arrangement on a plane.
According to him, those who think he could attempt to consolidate
such an error, by not swiftly releasing the seat to the allot, need some humanitarian intervention.
A young man who should occupy the seat had asked for it from the foremost writer, a request that, Soyinka had earlier noted in an email message, he quickly granted by yielding the seat to him.
The incident was reported by businessman and politician, Tonye Cole, who found the guy’s attitude rude.
Many had, however, gone ahead to still criticize Soyinka negatively, a situation that sparked some controversy.
Among other people, Soyinka’s son, Olaokun, had also chided those who viewed Soyinka’s puprrpoted taking of the boy’s seat with spite.
But officially speaking on the matter on Saturday, Soyinka said he could not wrongly identify an airline seat number like millions of travellers do all the time, and all over the world, and then attempt to consolidate the error in any form, through act, word, or gesture.
He advised airlines to impose fines on passengers who wrongly took seats on boarding and join proceeds from such initiative with donations from passengers to tackle worthy causes globally, especially health-related case.
According to him, one would rejoice in the thought of such benefits to humanity in its efforts to eradicate all kinds of diseases, especially malnutrition, and ensure the supply of nutrients that prevent the premature onset of brain impairment.
Then to the ‘critics’, he said, “Those who permit themselves to be persuaded, even for one second that I, Wole Soyinka, having wrongly identified a seat number like millions of travellers all the time, and all over the world, would then attempt to consolidate the error in any form, through act, word, or gesture, qualify to be the first beneficiaries of this vastly improved humanitarian policy.’’
