Soyinka was reacting to the President's comment in Lagos on Wednesday that the Jan. 2012 fuel subsidy removal protests were sponsored.
He said, "The most generous response that can be given to President Jonathan's recent statement on the people's fuel subsidy protest is that he is suffering from a bad conscience.
"The worst – which I fear is closer to the truth – is that he is lamentably alienated from the true pulse of the nation, thanks perhaps to the poor, eager-to-please quality of his analysts.
"Since I have had the opportunity to contest this perception of the protest with him directly, it is clear what kind of interpretative diet he prefers. The nation needs all the luck it can get."Condemning the President's use of force to quell the protests, Soyinka described the action as a violation of the people's constitutional rights and dismissed Jonathan's allegation that the protests were sponsored.
He said, "This should be seen as a grave danger to democracy, and a warning. Both the participants and those who, like myself, were unavoidably absent, that lent both vocal and moral support to the demonstration, have been maligned and insulted by such reductionist reasoning.
"The culture of public protest appears to be an alien territory to Jonathan, which is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that he has not only lived in this nation as a citizen, but served in various political offices.
"He has lived through the terror reign of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, whose ruthless misuse of the military and the secret service did not prevent demonstrations against perceived injustice and truncation of people's rights.
"Jonathan's pronouncements truly boggle the mind. What is this obsession with bottled water, comedians and musical artists? Must demonstrators drink water from the gutter? Is protest no longer viable when sympathisers cater to their needs, supply decent water and food rations?
"And since when have entertainers been deemed a sign of unseriousness in a protest rally? Static or moving, demonstrators boost their morale in any way they can, including dancing and even mini-carnivals." he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I weep for Nigeria. It seems there is no single president, governor, senator and the likes that truly fears God and keep his commandments. God's kingdom will come and every form of evil shall be destroyed. They will all answer to their deeds.
ReplyDeletePeople who came to power through crooked means, how would they know the plight of the common man on the street. D only plight that concerns them, is the plight of their masters intrest of lineing his pocket. God they don't know talkless to fear who they don't know.
DeleteExercise restraint in criticising the Man whom wears the crown. You surely cannot speak for all the protesters. Many have different and ingenuine motives. It is possible that every good moves can be hijacked and misused. Probably the President spoke from an experience.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid for Nigeria;a conutry highjacked by opportunists parading as concerned leaders.The results of their actions show that they had no vision.But I truly believe that the man Buhari has a vision for the country. lets not be deceived by bthe propanda of those who wants to see him as a religous bigot.He is not.Lets unite arround him by 2015.forget about ethnic or religious sentiment.Lets save the country
ReplyDeleteWhat experience is the president speaking from? Has participated in protest that was hijacked? Or is he speaking from his experience of his party hijacking protests? Which one is it?
ReplyDeleteA ruler who fails to listen to the crying of his people is no other than forest wild beast.
ReplyDeleteDon't Campaign for Buhari here,he is not going to do better.Our politicians are full of deceit,you cannot know their true nature until they sit in Aso rock.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people think that it is only people who fear God that can be good rulers and how can you tell if they do or not before it is late? I suppose all these leaders in good democratic nations fear God right? WAKE UP!!!
ReplyDeletePeaceful protest is a fundamental human right. It is the duty of government to protect life and property. Is Soyinka saying that government should allow life and property to be destroyed? That will be tountermount to negligence and i beg to disgree with Soyinka. Violence must be checked (if necessary by enough force to quench it)
ReplyDeleteKai, the president shouldn't have reminded Nigerians of that bitter pills- fuel subsidy removal which threw Nigerian state into turmoil for the period the attendant strike lasted. whether sponsored or not, Nigerian masses are literate enough to feel the heat when it is too hot to bear. Mr. President, please show us your report card of the proceeds of the fuel subsidy removal - ministerial Appointments and National Awards to those who stole the Subsidy money.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dumb comment frm d president. He shud resign 4 such utterances. Since he knows abt protest been sponsored, he shud equally call out names involved in fuel subsidy scam instead of dishing out national awards to same people
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 4:16 should clip his mouth. d government should tackle boko first.
ReplyDeleteClean houses say you care and maintain the house.
ReplyDelete