Stop Calling Us Secret Cultists, Soyinka’s Pyrates Group Tells Nigerians

The National Association of Seadogs, NAS, also known as the “Pyrates Confraternity”, at the weekend again cautioned against referring to the “noble” group as a secret cult, saying the association does not fall within the cultism category, but an organization set up for humanistic ideals and defend the right of the less privileged in the country.

This was stated by the Elpasso Sso Deck Capoon, Shina Oguntomi who is in charge of Ondo and Ekiti States Chapter of the association during its annual Feast of Barracuda, FoB, in Akure, the Ondo State capital

According to Capoon Oguntomi during the FoB attended by officers of the Nigerian Police, NSCDC, FRSC, journalists led by the Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adetona Aderoboye among others, due to misconception, the public is yet to differentiate between the association and secret cult groups.

While narrating that NAS came into existence in 1952 at the then University College now University of Ibadan, UI, he emphasized that its mission was in response to the notion of class privilege and elitism on campus at that time and as well to fight against ills in just society.

It was gathered that the original founding fathers of the Pyrates Confraternity who were students at the University then included a Nobel Laureate Prof Sole Soyinka, Ralph Opara, Pius Oleghe, Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede, Nathaniel Oyelola, Olumuyiwa Awe and Sylvanus U. Egbuche.

His words:

“This meeting is called Feast of Barracuda (FoB). It is an annual event that is being hosted by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) where by we celebrate with the people by identifying a ill that is militating against a just society.

Oguntomi said, “NAS is the only association that existed in the then University College now University of Ibadan. It used to be the military arm of the Students’ Union to fight against any ills within the students environment.

“But due to the standardization and transparency nature of the organization, those who went below the discipline level where expelled and those are the people that formed the secret cults we have on the campuses. Nobody knows them on the campuses, they are not registered with the school authority. Only pyrate is being known.”

“NAS used to be the spoke mouth for most students on campus then. So, anytime the cult groups perpetrate evil acts, attention is always shifted to pyrates because they are the only visible group on campus,” Oguntomi opined.

He further maintained that “In 1984, after much accusations on the organisation, NAS pulled out of school. Today, for anyone to join us, you must have an NYSC discharged certificate and that is the only criteria before you can join this association. You also have to go through a written test and as well display high level of commitment, loyalty to humanitarian services and the most of it all is discipline.

“And the program we have done here is one of those things we do often and often.

“If anyone says Pyrate is a secret cult, tell me any secret cult that does what we have done today.”

The Association during the event donated four brand new big tyres to the Ondo state police command SARS and free medical services were rendered at the event, while members of the group such Santana Adaguodo had donated or constructed public buildings like classrooms and police station.

Meanwhile, a Specialist Urologist, Dr Williams Imade who gave the health talk on prostrate at the FoB advised men to ensure that medical checks are done on them particularly when they attain 40 years.

Also tyres were also donated to the Anti-cultism section of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police to assist in the fight against cultism in the state.