‘I am prepared’, Wole Soyinka declares readiness for death

Published

2 years ago

October 14, 2024

Nigerian literary icon and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has stated that he is prepared for his death, reflecting on his life’s journey and legacy in a recent interview.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has disclosed that he has made arrangements for his eventual passing, although he still intends to take a vacation.

During an interview with CNN, the 90-year-old playwright, essayist, and poet shared reflections on his life, artistic journey, and future. Soyinka provided insight into how he uniquely celebrates his birthdays by often retreating into nature.

Soyinka mentioned, “Typically, on my birthdays, I retreat into the forest. Solitude brings me great joy.” He then reflected on aging: “What’s bothersome is that I don’t feel 90. It seems I’ve come to take birthdays for granted.”

Soyinka’s home in Abeokuta, filled with modern art and cultural artifacts, reflects Nigeria’s vibrant heritage while providing a serene retreat. Reflecting on this, he remarked: “Perhaps deep down I desire companionship, which is why I’ve gathered all these.”

In addition to being his residence, Soyinka’s estate symbolizes his commitment to environmental preservation, showcasing his personal reforestation initiatives. He affectionately calls it “the autonomous republic of Ijegba,” which highlights both his passion for nature and dedication to restoring the surrounding land.

“When I first moved here, the area was completely covered in forest and served as my hunting grounds,” he remembered. “It truly felt like being in another country where I could remain isolated from society.”

When questioned about his perspective on the future, Soyinka offered a reply that skillfully mixed humor with gravity.

“I don’t mean to be grim, but we all know what the future holds. I’ve made plans for that eventuality within this estate; it’s simply where we’re all destined to go.”

Before looking to that eventual future, the iconic writer has more immediate plans.

“The first step is to take a vacation and make a legally binding resolution to stop granting interviews,” Soyinka concluded.

Chaos As Military Officers Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s Visit To Bayelsa (Videos)

Published

7 days ago

April 12, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Personnel of the Nigerian military were seen engaging in a fight during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa on Friday.

In a video spotted on social media, the driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” was seen stepping down from his vehicle and exchanging words with another driver.

After returning to his vehicle, another driver with a rifle approached him and threw a punch at the Naval Police driver, triggering a brawl.

The incident quickly escalated into a free-for-all, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows, while stunned civilians watched in disbelief.

HRH Ekwueme of Ochia Kingdom Iynched & kiIIed in Imo.

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia, Barr Paulinus Ekwueme, alongside security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. The attackers ambushed the monarch at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities after he returned from a trip abroad earlier in the week.

Some security operatives in his convoy were also shot dead. Eyewitness said the monarch and the security operatives were set ablaze after the killing, adding that the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning.

Hrm lives in America, but some in his town accuse him of acquiring lots of wealth coming from the oil in their land and yet they have no nepa (light) and other amenities, and that this angered the youths of his community to take this step. One said Ms Duruaku wrote, “he ate the youth empowerment meant given to him by shell oil company and ran abroad for years”

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Abuja hotel collapse: Wike orders arrest of owner, to convert land to public use

Published

2 weeks ago

April 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of a multi-story hotel that collapsed in Jikwoyi, Abuja last Friday, April 4 and announced that the land would be seized for public use.

LIB had reported that the building crumbled while workers were on site, triggering an emergency response from relevant authorities.

Visiting the site today April 7, Wike said the building was constructed without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that all the stop-work notices sent to the builders were ignored by the developer.

Wike confirmed that while there were no fatalities, several people sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. He warned that the outcome could have been far worse.

Announcing the government’s plans for the land, Wike said the FCT Administration will take over the land for public use, noting that those responsible for the illegal construction will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

He added that the local community would be consulted to determine a suitable public-purpose project for the reclaimed site.