Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has confessed that he does not use social media, saying that its usage is now in the hand of the ignoramus.
Soyinka, who spoke on Friday in Lagos at the unveiling of his latest interventions volume, titled: “The Putin Files,” at Freedom Park Lagos, disclosed that he neither tweet nor use WhatsApp.
Expressing concern over the harmful use of technology and social media, Soyinka stated that the wrong usage of technology is fast, taking humanity backwards due to profiling and abusive words.
His words:
“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.
Meanwhile, Soyinka opined that the whole concept of democracy needs to be re-examined.
He added: “Revolution is not about lining up behind nearest available symbol. When a symbol does emerge, however, we are still obliged to examine every aspect of what is fortuitously an offer, and continue to guard our freedoms every inch of the way.”
He said Putin, as used in his book, is a metaphor and reality, adding:
“We can’t be shielded from what is happening.”
