THE National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has restated its non-partisan position ahead of the 2023 general elections, emphasising that the group has no preferred candidate.
The Association made the clarification at a media briefing held late yesterday, by its Cap’n, Abiola Owoaje.
Recall that a one-minute video showing some purported members of the Pyrates Confraternity, had gone viral on Social media.
In the video, the members dressed in red and white attire, danced and chanted: “Hand dey shake, leg dey shake, baba wey no well he dey shout Emi Lokan”, roughly translated to mean “With an unstable hand and leg, a man with a frail health is sounding off that it’s his turn to be Nigeria’s president.’’
In his reaction, renowned godfather of the group, Noble laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, condemned the song, purportedly mocking the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Soyinka, who along with two others (including Emeritus professor Awe) founded the group at the then University College, Ibadan, had said in a statement, that “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.
“In addition, let me make the following cultural affirmation. I have listened to the lyrics of the chant intently and I am frankly appalled. 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.”
However, in his response, Owoaje explained that quite contrary to the manner in which certain aspects of the video are being portrayed, no aspect of the procession or the event itself was political.
Rather, he said, it was the typical climax of its annual general meeting, adding that at no time in the history of the organisation has this event; or indeed any of its events had any slanted political leanings.
The NAS Cap’n stressed that the 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 and this would never be condoned.”
Owoaje, emphasised that, as an organisation, it has never had a preferred candidate in any political elections, including the upcoming 2023 general elections.
