PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA

Early day motion 197, tabled 2 July 1997 by Alan Johnson (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House welcomes the visit to the United Kingdom of the brilliant Nigerian writer Professor Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate) to give the annual Wilberforce Lecture in the great slave emancipator's birthplace of Hull on 8th July; applauds Professor Soyinka's consistent and courageous stance against oppression and injustice in Nigeria which force him to flee the country shortly after his friend the late Ken Saro-Wiwa was arrested; notes that having endured imprisonment mostly in solitary confinement during 1960s, Wole Soyinka has continued his fearless opposition into the military dictatorship that has ruled Nigeria for nine of the last 37 years; and believes that there could be no better person to deliver the Wilberforce Lecture which is dedicated to the cause of human rights.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.