Wole Soyinka Spotted Riding Okada in Abeokuta Over Fuel Price Surge in Nigeria
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was on Thursday sighted navigating the streets of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in a manner many described as highly unusual.
The revered literary figure was seen riding a commercial motorcycle, commonly referred to as Okada, as he departed the Ake area of the city, PulseNets learned.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to PulseNets observed that the 89-year-old playwright opted for the two-wheeled means of transport after encountering considerable difficulty sourcing fuel for his private vehicle.
Several residents who witnessed the moment expressed disbelief, noting that if a personality of Soyinka’s stature is compelled to resort to an Okada due to fuel scarcity and rising costs, it underscores the deepening hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Professor Soyinka, a native of the Ake area of Abeokuta, has consistently remained outspoken on national discourse, particularly issues affecting citizens’ welfare.
His choice to board a commercial motorcycle instead of enduring prolonged queues at filling stations or purchasing fuel at inflated black market rates has been interpreted by many as a quiet but powerful statement on the current economic realities, PulseNets reported.
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Across the country, the price of fuel has surged to as much as N1,500 per litre in some locations, triggering a steep rise in transportation fares and worsening the overall cost of living crisis, findings obtained by PulseNets indicate.
