I want to draw blood with my new book — Soyinka

Playwright and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said he wants to ‘draw blood’ with his latest book, ‘Interinventions.’

He explained that the book was his tool of ‘vengeance’ against what he termed ‘unprovoked assault of public lies’ many of which he claimed were directed at him.

He said this on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Making his remarks at the formal inauguration of The Wole Soyinka Foundation, which was a retreat haven for writers, Soyinka 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 by the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

The playwright said the book has therapeutic value because according to him, “it is so truthful that it hurts.” He then recommended it to people who felt vengeful towards purveyors of public lies.

He said, “InterInventions, 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.

“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.”

He bemoaned the trend where public lies had become an industry, and even having multiplier effect, with the Internet further espousing such misnomer.

Making direct reference to this on Page 7 of the book, he wrote: “Lies of staggering impudence, especially considering the fact that, in most cases, both victims and their traducers are still living.”

He called 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.”

He explained that he was able to keep his sanity as a creative writer in midst of unprovoked assault of public lies, retiring to a serene environment, where his sanity receives a new vigour for creativity.

Oshiomhole described Soyinka as a “great and relentless fighter” adding that “the nation needs social warriors who speak the truth without giving a hoot whose ox is gored.”

The governor who attended the event in the company of his wife, Iara, described the Wole Soyinka Foundation as a worthy cause that every Nigerian should identify with.

Prominent personalities at the event include the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, former governors of Rivers, Ekiti and Cross River states, Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Donald Duke respectively, and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo among others.