Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was scathing in his review of the security situation in Rivers State yesterday.
He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of “looking elsewhere for the smoke in the plane” while “the fire is right on his own roof at Aso Villa.
“Before the fire becomes unstoppable, something must be done to put it off,” he said.
The eminent writer said the President should transfer the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to fight the Boko Haram menace.
Soyinka spoke in Osogbo on Wednesday during the celebration of the late African icon, Nelson Mandela, at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) in the Osun State capital.
He said the likes of CP Mbu is not required in peaceful states like Rivers, Osun and Lagos, adding that “people who are so tough, so unbeatable and untouchable should be sent to Maiduguri to go and confront the greatest menace the country is facing now” (the Boko Haram).
“Since Mbu is such a tough cop that is so powerful and mighty that he can steamroll over the democratic process of this nation and to show how tough he is, I recommend to Jonathan that he should be sent to Maiduguri to go and show his powers there with Boko Haram”, he said.
Soyinka said he was ashamed to be a citizen of a country where a police commissioner could act with impunity and opened fire on unarmed people who were exercising their fundamental human rights as upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He described as “more shameful” that “there has not been any reaction from Aso Rock Villa on the ugly incident as at date.”
Mbu said he ordered his men to smash a rally last Sunday by a non- governmental orgamisation in Port Harcourt because the rally was not permitted by him.
Senator Magnus Abe was shot at with rubber bullet. Abe alongside Chief of Staff Government House in Rivers State Tony Okocha were injured. Abe is recuperating at a London hospital.
Soyinka insisted that people do not require a police permit to meet and that the police are obliged to provide protection for people meeting peacefully.
He remarked that if Nelson Mandela had been at the head of Nigeria, “any policeman or law enforcement officer who fires even a rubber bullet at innocent people – I am not even talking about a senator or politician or opposition – innocent people harmlessly holding a meeting and any officer be it soldier, policeman, vigilante who intrudes in such a meeting with violence using state’s power or the people’s armoury to injure or traumatise the citizens, such an individual would be in jail now, however highly placed”.
Soyinka advised President Jonathan to quickly call Mbu to order before he wreaks havoc on the democratic process.
The Nobel laureate pointed out that what is happening in Rivers State is not an affair of the state alone but that which concerns every Nigerian.
He reminded Mbu of the existence and jurisdiction of the International Court of Crimes Against Humanity adding, “I want to tell Mbu that one of these days, he would find himself in front of that criminal court and he would go and keep company with Charles Taylor and the killers in Rwanda”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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That's a good recommendation prof, maiduguri is the ideal place for mbu to be.
ReplyDeleteHahaha I no fit laugh
DeleteGbam!!!
ReplyDeleteSo Soyinka dont know that Amaechi is the BOKO HARAM of Rivers state?. Just the BH of the north is busy destroying the north, Amaechi is also busy destroying Rivers state.If you are among those that sent him, better call him to order incase he would listen you. All calls for him to soft-paddle by eminent persons from the state and beyond are falling on deaf ears. He has refused to listen to the voices of reason. He is dancing to the beat of drums played from outside and he will dance to destruction. You cant fight cos of personal interest at the detriment of your people and expect vixtory. God is alive!.
ReplyDeleteExactly, his professional & bravido is wastin here, go to Borno
ReplyDeleteTruth reveald: y is Nigeria wastin talent? Y do we fix round beg in square hole?Mbu is a security genuis dat wil b utilised in Borno
ReplyDeleteControversial Mbu is an embarrasmt 2 our democracy & Nig; been severally investigated by IGP, police service commission, National Assembly & National human right commision
ReplyDeleteWell said prof
ReplyDeleteMbu pls go & rescue us frm BH
ReplyDeleteWell said Prof.
ReplyDeleteControversial Mbu is an embarrasmt 2 our democracy & Nig; been severally investigated by IGP, police service commission, National Assembly & National human right commision
ReplyDeleteTruth reveald: y is Nigeria wastin talent? Y do we fix round beg in square hole?Mbu is a security genuis dat wil b utilised in Borno
ReplyDeleteExactly, his professional & bravido is wastin here, go to Borno
ReplyDeleteLet all nigerians wake up and start a campaign of dismissal for Obu abi Ubu or whatever he's being called. Ubu is an anti-democracy person, his skills would be best utilised in maiduguri, yobe etc. Stupid commisioner.
ReplyDeleteI love that
ReplyDeleteAdvice to GEJ is like rain on a roof top. It doesn't penetrate. mostly when it comes from those seen as enemies or opposition no matter how beneficial, logical or sensible the suggestion or idea may be.What a pity.
ReplyDeletegood advice. I believed, one day Mbu will be in serious or critical condition. 99 days are for the thief, 1day for the owner.
ReplyDeleteLovely recommendation.... Do act on it soon Mr President
ReplyDeleteMbu is d military administrator in Rivers state. Gov. Rotimi Amechi hs been made a ceremonial gov by the veto power from Aso rock under seige and impunity . Rt hon Rotimi is indeed an epitome of courge nt only a progressive minded crusader. Mbu has Abacharism blood of dictatorship in him.Let Mbu go and make history in Maduguri against Boko Araham menace that he is superman with "HT Voltage and Megawatt muscle". Then we shall know that his postulation is not mere hypothesis but of theory and law that can withstand the test of this era.
ReplyDeleteProf, ur advice shld rather go 2 d dfacto presido (mama pis). Watever (s)he says is a LAW! Hve u heard dat among those jstling 2 take over 4rm Tukur (s)he hve a candidate? Hve u also heard dat some 'idiots' 4rm Okrika hve threatnd 2 shut PH refinery if Mbu is transferd 4rm rivers state. Pls hu is 4rm okrika? ln a country where GOD put pple dat luv d country wt passion. Prof nxt time, pls know where 2 direct ur advice 2. GOD bless NAIJA.
ReplyDeletegbam
DeleteThanks prof. I hope Mr President will make use of this ideal advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks prof. I hope Mr President will make use of this ideal advice.
ReplyDeleteWell said sire
ReplyDeleteMr President please send Cop Mbu to fight Biko haram, Nigeria needs tough men like him in Borno.
ReplyDeletePlease listen to Prof WOLE Soyinka and send Cop Mbu to destroy Biko haram
Prof. U just said ur view without balancing it.I have seen ur k leg dancing and romance wt APC.Amaechi was in ur daughter's burial and so on.But that's by the way,Amaechi is a political tyrant and dictator that wants everybdy to bow for him when he is sending the wrong signal.Our leaders shld try to play politics with ideology and shun personal gains making it look like is the whole pple that wants it.Bunch of political jokers..God will see us thru.
ReplyDeleteGod is good,yes oo, what gave me a sleepness night is now resolved by prof .in an attempt 2 find a lasting solution 2 d problems of boko haram in borno ,dat always borders my mind ,dat who is dat man dat will provide us an adequate security in maiduguri.iam happy 2 inform u dat mr MBU is d man.mr president take note.
ReplyDeleteGod is good,yes oo, what gave me a sleepness night is now resolved by prof .in an attempt 2 find a lasting solution 2 d problems of boko haram in borno ,dat always borders my mind ,dat who is dat man dat will provide us an adequate security in maiduguri.iam happy 2 inform u dat mr MBU is d man.mr president take note.
ReplyDeleteI found it annoying to see that if the entire people of Nigeria will not find out what the root cause of river state crises is over the last 4 years before they take sides, Soyinka should have done otherwise. But Soyinka is taking side with Ameachi and other political oppositions.What is happening in river state is not political but ethnicity/tribal issue. The stake holders are only using political apparatus as tools to fight each other. Soyinka has insulted Patience Jonathan because of river state crises. He has wined and dinned with APC/ Ameachi faction led governors forum. Soyinka is so blind that he could not see that Ameachi sacked an elected local government chairman from the office 4 years ago. Soyinka did not see this as a threat to national democracy. It is only when the kinsmen of the sacked local goverment chairman decided to use their political influence at national level against Ameachi and his group that soyinka's eyes opene to see this as a threat to Nigerian democracy which is just one sided view by Soyinka. Amaechi and his group are out to make troubles on many grounds. After he defected to APC, Ameachi said he will go back to PDP if Jonathan gives back oil wells in Bayelsa to River state. The question is did Jonathan take the oil wells and hand them to bayelsa state government/people. No, it was the judiciary that made the judgment. Why would Ameachi be using judgment made by the judiciary to blackmail the president and Soyinka is silent about this?Is this not a threat to the Nigerian democracy and the rule of law? I am disappointed to see Soyinka addressing issues from side of a coin.
ReplyDeleteamechi is the boko haram commander rivers state branch. Mbu is doing a nice work there
ReplyDeleteWole check your facts and stop dancing to your paymaster ameachi's tune. People please check your facts first before joining the bandwagon. Ameachi is NOT a democrat.
ReplyDelete