I never referred to Patience Jonathan as an 'illiterate'...Says Soyinka

Literary icon Professor Wole Soyinka in a statement released yesterday
to media houses said that while he may have publicly chastised First
Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, he has never referred to her as an
illiterate. He said his name is being falsely used to disrespect the
first lady and will take legal action once he finds out the source of
the lies. I recall him referring to Patience Jonathan as that woman on
his CNN interview with Amanpour though. Anyway, his statement reads in
part below;

"It commenced over a year ago, I seem to recollect, as a telephone
text, 'tweet' or whatever it is called, died away after strong
rebuttals, and is now being provided renewed life by some faceless
cowards with their own private agenda. Let me state quite clearly that
literacy is no indicator of intelligence, even though we all believe
(I hope) in universal literacy. From childhood I have interacted with
so-called "illiterate" men and women, sipped from their innate
intelligence, and learnt much from them outside formal schooling"...

"Your readers may wish to know that when I first encountered the
statement, I was sufficiently appalled to send a personal message to
Patience Jonathan dissociating myself from such a base sentiment. The
associated commentary on the president's decisions - I have no idea
which decision, if any - is equally outrageous and disgusting. To
attribute to me the slightest interest in the choice of a spouse by
man or woman is a complete travesty of my near obsessive belief in the
sanctity of private relationships"

"Let me take this opportunity to announce yet again that I do not
tweet, blog or whatever goes on in this increasingly promiscuous
medium. I do not run a Facebook, even though I am aware that one or
two serious-minded individuals/groups have instituted some such forum
on their own, for the purpose of disseminating factual information on
my activities. I neither contribute to, nor comment on the contents of
their "calendar".On how the internet is being used to disrespect
people, Prof Soyinka said professional actions should be taken to
protect the integrity of the medium, and save it from becoming "a mere
vomitorium" for unprincipled scallywags who may or may not have a
particular axe to grind.