Daniel, who is currently the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, made this known while delivering the keynote address at an event the Isara community – where Soyinka hails from – organised to mark his 90th birthday and celebrate him.
The event tagged, “Celebrating our Illustrious Son, Prof. Wole Soyinka at 90′ held on Monday 15 July at Afotamodi Town Hall, Isara-Remo, in Ogun State. BLDR Kunle Awobodu facilitated it.
In his speech, Daniel, who was also the Chairman of the occasion, said when he visited Soyinka and saw that he wasn’t using an air conditioner and the road leading to his residence wasn’t tarred, he volunteered to tar the road and fix an air conditioner in his house.
“Let me tell you another story, which would shock you. I went to visit Prof in his house in Abeokuta. The road was not tarred, no air conditioner. Nothing. I said, ‘Prof, why don’t you put air conditioner? He said ‘I want fresh air’, adding that our fathers didn’t have air conditioners and they lived long.
“So, today that he is 90, I am not surprised. And I am not surprised if he still goes to 100, 120 years.
“But the other thing is that I said, ‘Oga, let us come and tar this road for you. He said ‘Don’t tar the road.’ I said, ‘Why?’ He said by the time you tar this road, vehicles would just be going up and down. It is the noise and pollution that I will be hearing.’
And guess what? He said, ‘I enjoy killing aparo (guinea fowl). I aimed my Dane gun. And whenever I feel like I shoot at aparo. And I have food to eat. By the time you tar this place, vehicles would be going up and down, and aparo would not be available any longer.’
That is Prof Wole Soyinka, the naturalist. I can go on and on and on, ” Daniel maintained.