Obi, Tinubu camps in face-off over Pyrates’ ‘emilokan’ video, as Jonathan’s ex-aide slams Soyinka for ‘double standards’

Supporters of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 General Elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and those of the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Dr Peter Obi engaged in a face-off, Tuesday, over a widely trending video showing members of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), in a procession, chanting a song said to be mocking the ruling party’s standard bearer.

While the Pyrates Confraternity has since denied any political connotations being alluded to in the video, supporters of the APC Presidential candidate have moved to rope in as many Nigerians they claim were involved in the video making the rounds, including Dr Obi.

However, in an attempt to distance himself from the video, co-founder of the Pyrates Confraternity and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, in an official statement, described the said video as ‘distasteful,’ a reaction which, incidentally, drew the ire of Mr Reno Omokri, the former spokesperson of immediate past President of the country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who in turn accused the playwright of ‘double standards.’

In a video still trending on social media, members of the Pyrates Confraternity, also known as Seadogs, are seen in a procession in Lagos, chanting a song sampled from a speech reportedly delivered by Asiwaju Tinubu prelude to the APC Presidential primary poll in June, this year, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in which he told his supporters that it is now his turn to rule Nigeria after the tenure of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, which in Yoruba means ‘Emilokan,’ (it is my turn).

Pyrates Confraternity during the procession could be heard chanting a song which lyrics read:

“Emilokan, emilokan, baba wey no well, e dey shout emiliokan,

“Hand de shake, leg de shake, baba wey no well, e de shout emi lokan.”

In a swift reaction after the video went viral on social media, the Pyrates Confraternity, Tuesday, distanced the group from any political leanings, as it claimed the society remained apolitical.

“In the last 48 hours, our attention has been drawn to a viral video of a song that has raised concerns and commentary across Nigeria.

For the avoidance of doubt, between August 4 and August 6 2022, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) was in Ikeja, Lagos, for our 46th Annual General Meeting. This event was attended by over 2,000 of our members who came to Lagos from all over the world.

“As part of the activities we were at the Isheri Primary Health Centre on Thursday 4th August, where we provided free medical services to the Isheri Community. Over 300 people were assisted with various forms of medical treatment. We were also at the Police Hospital, Area F, Ikeja, where we donated substantial quantities of PPEs and other medical supplies.

“These were part of our NAS Medical Mission which was founded in 2012. In the 11 years since then, we have organised over 50 free medical missions that has made a difference to many disadvantaged communities across Nigeria.

“Part of the annual general meeting was the review of all our advocacy, humanitarian and operational activities for the year. This, then, as usual, culminated in a celebratory procession. An aspect of this yearly process that we have undertaken for the last 46 years. In our view, it proceeded without event, until this extremely limited video made this appearance.

“Quite contrary to the manner in which certain aspects of the video are being portrayed, no aspect of this procession or the event itself was political. Rather it was the typical climax of our annual general meeting. At no time in the history of this organisation has this event; or indeed any of our events had any slanted political leanings.

“Let it be known that the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) does not mock or discriminate against the physical condition of any person. Never. It is an unfair characterisation and offends everything that we stand for. Indeed, this would cause offence to even our own members that are also, unfortunately, afflicted that this would never be condoned.

“We must stress that we are apolitical. As an organisation, we have never had a preferred candidate in any political elections including the upcoming 2023 general elections. We have members who belong to different political parties and are absolutely free to support any candidate of their choice.

“It is most unfortunate that political capital is being made of this with interpretations that are totally at variance with the philosophy of the Pyrates Confraternity. Unequivocally, we condemn this in very strong terms.

“We understand that political merchants desperately seeking media mileage are all over the place misinforming and twisting events to suit their political agenda. However, we wish to reemphasise that the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) are not supporting or backing any candidate for the office of the President or any other office in the 2023 general elections and beyond.

“As an organisation in tune with disadvantaged and voiceless people, we are committed to the enthronement of a just society in which no one is discriminated against based on tribe, religion, gender or disability. We are against conventions that are moribund. We have always stood for Humanistic ideals, comradeship and chivalry. Nothing that has happened can and will change that posture.

“We are determined to continue to use our social programmes, intellectual platforms and our compelling songs to advocate for good governance and accountability!” the group said.

However, with the Tinubu Campaign Organisation accusing him of revealing too much information to his Pyrates Confraternity on the state of health of the APC Presidential candidate, the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who co-founded Pyrates Confraternity as a university student in Ibadan, Nigeria, was compelled to label the video a mockery of Tinubu’s much publicized ill-health, just as he further distanced himself from it, describing it as ‘distasteful.’

According to him, the display acidly targets a presidential candidate in the awaited 2023 elections.

“Since the whole world knows of my connection with that fraternity, it is essential that I state in clear, unambiguous terms, that I am not involved in that public performance, nor in any way associated with the sentiments expressed in the songs.

“Like any other civic group, the Pyrates Confraternity is entitled to its freedom of expression, individually or collectively.

“So also is Wole Soyinka in his own person. I do not interfere in, nor do I attempt to dictate the partisan political choices of the Confraternity.

“I remain unaware that the association ever engages in a collective statement of sponsorship or repudiation of any candidate.

“This is clearly a new and bizarre development, fraught with unpredictable consequences.

“I find it distasteful. I belong to a culture where we do not mock physical afflictions or disabilities. Very much the contrary.

“The Yoruba religion indeed designate a deity, Obatala, as the divine protector of the afflicted, no matter the nature of such affliction.

“This sensibility is engrained in us from childhood and remains with us all our lives. It operates on the principle of mortal frailty to which all humanity remains vulnerable,” he said.

In immediate reaction to Soyinka’s statement as well as Tinubu’s supporters who had claimed that the video was promoted by supporters of the LP candidate, the Peter Obi Support Network moved to state that the song and video were not targeted at anyone in particularly.

According to the Director, Strategic Communication of the group, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, “The Emi Lokan song is not a campaign against anyone or any political Party, neither is it an endorsement of any political Party for the forthcoming election.

“Like every art, music is inspired by trends and realities of history and topical issues and Pyrates from my personal observation of their styles and philosophies creates its songs from popular issues and topics.

“Depending on what side you are on, someone could actually see the song as promoting Tinubu’s candidacy, because it was taken from his speech, which is believed helped to solidify his chances at securing the APC nomination.

“If some individuals or an individual believe in the truism of the lyrics of that beautiful ballad, let him or her quit the race or quit supporting a sickly, dishonest and notoriously incompetent candidate, because we are all Nigerians and we want the best for our country.”

Onwuasoanya maintained that the Pyrates Confraternity is not an illegal or clandestine organisation, but a private organisation.

“Pyrates Confraternity will not endorse any political aspirant and will never give instructions to its members to vote for or campaign for any candidate.

“They recognise the fact that its membership cuts across various political and ideological loyalties.

“By the way, Pyrates is the most socially responsible organisation in Nigeria. Being a member of the organisation is not also as easy as it comes.

“To remain one, you also need to abide by strict code of conduct that reflects mostly on patriotic and responsible citizenship. Ask.

“Peter Obi is the candidate of all Nigerians, and among Seadogs are those who, like other Nigerians, believe that he has the key to unlock Nigeria’s greatness, but that cannot be an official standpoint of the organisation,” he noted.

Not done with the diatribe, former presidential spokesperson, Mr Reno Omokri waded into the face-off in a series of posts via his verified Twitter handle, Tuesday, by labeling Soyinka ‘a hypocrite.’

Omokri first asked: “Where was Professor Wole Soyinka when  Tinubu insulted Obidients by calling Labour a “mushroom” party, whose  members “will labour till  death”? Is that Pyrates song Soyinka called ‘distasteful’ as bad as wishing death on Labour Party members? Why didn’t Soyinka condemn Tinubu? “When Tinubu sponsored Occupy Naija, where then President Jonathan’s  photo was placed on a coffin and labelled RIP, why did Soyinka not call it distasteful, as he did with the Pyrates anti-Tinubu song? Wole Soyinka is too respected to display such double standards.”

In another post Omokri said: “Professor Wole Soyinka, who insulted Patience Jonathan, calling her a rather crude and rude name, which out of respect for her I will not mention here, is now upset that the Pyrates confraternity, which he founded, is mocking Tinubu? He called it distasteful! How tasteful was it for a Nobel laureate to insult the wife of a President, not for any government policy, but for her weight and perceived political influence in Rivers state? Not that I support the Pyrates video. I refused to post it. But if the video must be condemned, surely it should not be by Soyinka! He lacks the moral authority to so condemn.”