By Uduma Kalu
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday condemned critics of Okija shrine in Anambra State, saying such people are precursors to terrorism and that they depict primitive thinking.

Soyinka also condemned the declaration by Christian religious leaders in Mbaise area of Imo State to destroy the over 1,000 shrines in the area, saying those that order the destruction of African religion and culture are true advocates of mental closure, fanatics and agents of terrorism.

Also, former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Bola Tinubu has called for the cultural integration of the African continent as there are immense economic opportunities in it through cultural tourism, while Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State said Nigerian greatness did not lie in zoning the presidency but in somebody that can actualise his dreams for the country.

The trio spoke at the launch and colloquium of Panafest organised by the Panafest Foundation and Ghana High Commission, in Lagos.

The event,  which had Tinubu invested as the Grand Patron of PANAFEST, Nigeria had Soyinka as the keynote speaker.

The Nobel Laureate, who spoke on “Culture Under Siege,” said it was not the African culture which formal religions like Islam and Christianity described as pagan that give rise to kidnapping, 419 and other forms of criminality in the country.

Tinubu in his speech, “Culture for unity, development and prosperity,” saluted the achievements of former Ghanaian President, Kwame Nkrumah who called for African integration and Soyinka, saying unlike political integration, cultural integration is easier to handle with economic benefits through cultural tourism.

Mimiko, through his commissioner for Information,  Mr.  Ranti Akerele, said Nigerian development did not lie with zoning but those that have visions, adding that it is time to raise great leaders who can solve the country’s problems of roads, health and education.