Wole Soyinka's mission to Benin: A Novel?

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Friday in Benin City commended Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole for his re-development of the state's education and infrastructures.

Although he did not disclose the reason for his unannounced visit to the Benin Moat, realist believes two things: It may be connected with the move to make the moat as a world heritage site by UNESCO or Soyinka is currently working on a new spy Novel.

The Moat is one of the Nine Gateways into old Benin. The Benin Moat or Iya as it is localley called was constructed as a defense exit from the colonial masters. The Moat is more than 18 kilometers in height and about 1,200 kilometers in length  The work was finalized in the year 1460 as part of the world's largest and most ancient work in the world.

Soyinka, who made an unannounced stop at the Oba Oguola Press Centre while inspecting the historical  moat told anxious journalists who had attempted to ask of his mission in the state that he is 'happy with Oshiomhole and also condemned the so called 'Good Governance tour.'

Oshiomhole had said: “The resources accruable to the state cannot afford to accommodate the expenses of hosting the Minister of Information and his Good Governance tour team.

“Why should I take Edo State tax payers’ money to finance a federal government project? I don’t need Abuja to help me tell Edo people what I am doing in the state. Any time the state’s officials go for official duty in Abuja, the state takes responsibility for their expenses. So I expect the federal government to finance its officials.”