Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Playwright and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka Saturday broker his silence on the recent aircraft seat controversy which has gone viral on social media, saying he did not deliberately take another passenger’s seat while on a flight.
He stated this in a statement in the wake of media frenzy about how a much younger co-passenger insisted that the Octogenarian vacate the window seat he had mistakenly taken.
Soyinka indicated that he would not be tempted to say or do anything regarding the incident, thus admitting his error in the matter.
He said, “Those who permit themselves to be persuaded, even for one second that I, Wole Soyinka, having wrongly identified a seat number like millions of travellers all the time, and all over the world would then attempt to consolidate the error in any form, through act, word, or gesture, qualify to be the first beneficiaries of this vastly improved humanitarian policy.”
Prefacing his view on the matter, the literary icon pointed out that Nigerian airlines would have raised more money for charity if they had been more creative.
While admitting that he did not know how much airlines succeed in raising for their charity drives through the envelopes they distribute to passengers to make donations for charity purpose, he pointed out that the airlines could raise more money.
He said, “What I am convinced of is that they would generate a hundred times more if they were more creative. For instance, they could impose a fine on passengers who take the wrong seat on boarding, even for a second.
“One can only rejoice in the thought of such benefits to humanity in its efforts to eradicate all kinds of diseases, especially malnutrition, and ensure the supply of nutrients that prevent the premature onset of brain impairment.”
During the week, the story of Soyinka being asked to get up from a seat by a younger co-passenger had gone viral.
