Wole Soyinka's Son Speaks About The Man Who Refused To Give Up Plane Seat For His Father

Oluokun Soyinka, son of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says the unidentified young man who refused to give up his seat for his father was within his rights to do so.

 

Oluokun said this in an open letter addressed to business mogul, Tonye Cole, who first reported the matter on social media.

 

Soyinka’s son, while thanking Cole for his concern, however, berated the youths on social media who used the opportunity to insult his octogenarian father.

 

He wrote, “The young man whose seat it was may have had a specific reason to insist on having his seat. He was within his rights, and WS (Wole Soyinka) would be the last person to make an issue of it. My irritation, however, is reserved for social media warriors.”

 

Oluokun said the young man missed an opportunity of showing an act of kindness to an old man.

 

Soyinka’s son said his father was disrespected and ought to have been treated better.

 

He added, “I believe the learning point of this controversy lies in understanding the difference between right and entitlement. The seat owner had a right – that is enforceable. But the elder though he or she is entitled to some deference and respect, can only hope for it. In this case, it was not given and WS, unhesitatingly moved seat.”

 

Oluokun added that it was illogical to in one breadth judge Soyinka for occupying another person’s seat and at the same time insist that the young man should not be judged for having tattoos.

 

He added, “To the online outraged, I would point out that those who like to see an elder given his due deference are entirely within their rights to judge the young man. And if they decide to add some profiling (the t-shirt, tattoo, face cap), please just ‘chop it’!

 

Soyinka’s son said this was not the first time his father would plead with someone to allow him to occupy the window seat

 

He said his father does so most times to avoid people who would usually stop at the aisle to shake hands with him on the airplane.

 

Oluokun argued that his father was a national hero who had made many sacrifices for Nigeria.

 

He recalled how his father fought several military dictators and even had to go on exile.

 

Soyinka’s son said when his father returned to the country in the last 90s, he was given a free first class ticket by KLM in recognition of his heroism.

 

“People spent decades in jail, being tortured for merely hinting at criticism of the military ruler. Our freedom to hold our leaders accountable is a precious right bought by the heroism of many; some died, some are still living. So, as you fight your battles of today, please do so with a sense of history,” Oluokun said.

 

He said extending courtesies based upon age such as offering your seat in a crowded bus or lifting a heavy bag is not just a matter of convention or kindness but common sense.

 

He asked youths to remember that they would one day grow old and would one day rely on considerate fellow passengers or observant bystanders.