by Zainab Adinoyi
Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has issued a strong warning against attributing Nigeria’s democratic gains to any single individual, insisting that the nation’s democracy is the product of the collective sacrifices of countless men and women whose contributions may never be fully captured in history books.
Prof. Soyinka made the remarks on Thursday at the NADECO Awards ceremony in Lagos, an event that also featured the launch of a book chronicling the pro-democracy organisation’s history, written by former NADECO General Secretary Ayo Opadokun.
“I am very sure that no one here can single out any particular political figure as solely responsible for the achievements recorded,” the literary icon told the gathering. “Many people contributed, often suddenly and unexpectedly, in ways history may never fully capture”.
The Nobel laureate praised Opadokun’s book as a timely and necessary intervention that corrects distorted narratives surrounding key figures in the pro-democracy movement. According to Soyinka, the publication serves not merely as a historical record but as a tool for better governance—a reminder to those in power of the ideals upon which the struggle was built.
Reflecting on the difficult years he and his NADECO comrades spent in exile, particularly in Paris, Soyinka recalled the severe financial strain the movement endured. “We were permanently short of resources in France, and we had to manage whatever little assistance we could get,” he said. “The support and encouragement from friends and associates were very crucial in keeping us going”.
Despite the hardships, the playwright said the group was sustained by faith and an unshakeable belief in the eventual triumph of truth. “We prayed constantly that our country would not collapse and that better days would eventually come,” he added.
While welcoming renewed interest in documenting NADECO’s story, Soyinka urged all those engaged in retelling Nigeria’s democratic history to do so with care and a sense of responsibility, given the sensitivity of the subject matter and its implications for living individuals.
The Nobel laureate then called on President Bola Tinubu to regard the democratic structures bequeathed by the struggle generation as a trust. “The request I want to make is that the President should continue to build on the foundations already laid by those who fought for democracy and national stability,” Soyinka said. “One of the greatest responsibilities before this nation today is to preserve the structures that sustain peace, justice, and democratic governance”.
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