The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday expressed concerns over the spate of insecurity in the South-Western part of the country.

The literary icon and renowned playwright said there was the need for urgent action to be taken by stakeholders to address the issue.

He stated this while speaking with journalists at the Fagunwa Study Group Second International Conference, held in Akure, Ondo State.

The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday expressed concerns over the spate of insecurity in the South-Western part of the country.The literary icon and renowned playwright said there was the need for urgent action to be taken by stakeholders to address the issue.He stated this while speaking with journalists at the Fagunwa Study Group Second International Conference, held in Akure, Ondo State.

The conference was themed, ‘Wole Soyinka: Wole Soyinka, D.O Fagunwa and the Yoruba artistic heritage.’

The event was also organised to celebrate Prof. Soyinka’s 85th birthday.

Soyinka said, “As regard the insecurity in the South-West, there is an emergency.

“There should be a declaration of security emergency throughout the land and measures taken accordingly.

“There are many directions of security lapses, you know it here, especially in Ondo State, it is a calamity throughout the whole nation. There is an emergency.”

He commended the Ondo State Government for celebrating arts and culture, particularly as the state built an event centre which accommodates arts and cultural events.

The state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, in his remarks, said Nigerians were being encouraged and motivated by Soyinka’s writings and activities over the several decades of his engaging years.

“This is because they have elevated in our minds, the art of partisan living, as the biggest ideal of social reclamation

“Indeed, his life at every station has taught us that to make a meaning of life, a man must set forth at dawn and immerse himself at the epicenter of beliefs, struggles and activities which seek to reclaim society and help it attain its spontaneous fullness of being.” Akeredolu stated.