Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday blasted President Goodluck Jonathan for endorsing and encouraging the reign of impunity in Nigeria even as the country grapples with difficult times.
Addressing journalists on the state of the nation at the Freedom Park in Lagos titled King Nebuchadnezzar – The Reign of Impunity, Soyinka chronicled Jonathan’s abuse of power and described him as totally alienated from the reality that has engulfed the nation.
“That a national leader should go campaigning on the platform of ethnic support at a time when priorities dictate a united national engagement for survival, is a grotesque undertaking,” Soyinka said, referring to Jonathan’s visit at the Obafemi Awolowo University last week while Boko Haram is wreaking havoc in northern Nigeria.
Jonathan has continued to degrade the political system by endorsing lawlessness and supporting lawless appointees, not minding the chaos Nigeria is going through, Soyinka said.
“Nothing is more unworthy of leadership than to degrade the system by which one attains fulfilment, and this is what the nation has witnessed time and time again in various parts of the nation, the recent affront against the legislative chamber being only the most blatant and unconscionable,” Soyinka said.
Soyinka also did not spare the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, saying Abba has declared war on Nigeria and is undermining the democratic structure in Nigeria with his recent illegal actions and utterances.
“The latest action of the supposed guardians of law against the nation’s lawgivers is an unambiguous declaration of war against the people,” Soyinka said, adding that “such a public servant deserves to be publicly pilloried, tried and meted a punishment that is appropriate to treasonable acts.”
Abba, Soyinka said, “has wasted no time in inaugurating a season of brutish power,” but Nigerians have a choice to either submit or resist.
“Let’s not beat around the bush: the line has been drawn. The people must decide – whether to submit or resist,” Soyinka said.
For Abba, Soyinka said: “What sticks to this policeman is worse than shame, it is infamy.”
He said governance has degenerated to such a level that “any individual, on account of his uniform, can stop an elected representative of a people.”
Soyinka cautioned the media not to describe legislators who had to scale the fence of the National Assembly to perform their legislative duties as shameful, rather the police should bear the shame.
“The act of scaling the gates and walls to fulfil their duty by the people must be set down as their finest hour. They must be applauded, not derided,” Soyinka said.
He added: “ If shame belongs somewhere, it belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish adherence to conspiratorial, illegal and unconstitutional instructions.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Baba agba, you have spoken well. Intelligence and sound message always radiate from your words. I feel you as always, unlike the yes men of mr president such as Doyin Okupe and the rest of mr president's guide dogs running after him with no sense of duty to the people.
ReplyDeleteMUMU! Even when he call on U to PRAISE CRIMINALS U JUMP gate to discharge their CRIMINALITY U stil see him as Ur BABA AGBA? U MUMU no b small. BUMCUM!
DeleteHe who has ears, let him hear.
ReplyDeleteNigerians, beware; take your destinies in your hands come 2015 by showing the PDP the backdoor to restore sanity to the land.
It is now or never, period.
Vote out PDP and live; Vote them in and disintegrate.
Fine we've had enough cases of corruption,mismanagement and decayed infrastructures but we never had impunity perpetrated by any regime this far. GEJ regime is the most corrupt cz he added impunity to our wounds.
ReplyDeleteWole is not exactly an intelligent man, He is only bookish. His opinion is just like any other nigerian's. It can never be our reality.
ReplyDeleteYou're are very right. What does Soyinka know about politics? I guess he rather face what concerns him and knows best than getting involved in what he knows less.
DeleteA word they say is enough for the wise but an article to fool is still nothing. You said what thus wole Soyinka knows about politics? Two things is for sure either you are an illiterate or school drop-out so l don't think l should engage in issue with you, either way if you a graduate l don't envy your alma-mater.
DeleteTalking rubbish, Wole, Nigerians thought you are a right thinking person, we never knew you have faultily joint opposition in insulting elected President of Nigeria and supporting greedy politicians who are described by OBJ as criminals. Wole under your nose Tambuwal defected from PDP to APC with the mandate given to him by PDP why didn't you advise him rightly. O' you have the gods to criticize Mr. President for visiting the West -Shame to all Lawmakers for jumping the fence this confirmed they are bunch of Criminals.
ReplyDeleteWole Soyinka or what he called himself should better caution himself of some misguided utterances. If he's interested in politics of this nation, he should drop his literary works to face politics. He doesn't know the security procedures. He shouldn't blame the IGP or the who knows what he is doing. APC is stirring up trouble in order to distract GEJ. Agbero lawmakers who makes law to their benefits and not the national interest. Look at how they were scaling the fence. Can that happen in western country even in Ghana? Soyinka is an opportunist who made his name in the days of ignorance in Africa. Let him sit in class with a kindergarten these days if he will not be flopped.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 8.10am, you are just a bumcum; you cannot even write in correct English language. Once somebody constructively criticizes a government action, it is termed the person is in opposition. How toutish thinking you all are.
ReplyDeleteNonesense. Always critising the FG. Why not come out and contest so that we can vote for you.
ReplyDeleteToo much book don spoil this man brain. Is this the gospel you preach to The Seadog (pirates)..... But your brother Obasanjo na Herod shi!
ReplyDeleteYou have spoken well, its is about time Nigeria stand up for what is right, we all have same feelings but would never voice it out like Fela did in his time, we need more courageous people to change this Nation.
ReplyDeleteIf you leave in Nigeria, or UK / USA in need of legal advice on Authenticity of Landed property search, divorce, investments or general legal advice in Nigeria, email us ( frontlinelegal@outlook.com ) and we would refer you to the experts . any expert we refer you too would be willing to meet with you one-on-one where ever you live in the UK / USA or in Nigeria, just write US.
Rubbish Rubbish Rubbish Wole!
ReplyDeleteRubbish! Rubbish Rubbish! Wole. In any decent society which I'm sure you want us to evolve to, nobody jumps from one political party to another without resigning and submitting himself to a bye election by the electorate. More so someone in the position of speaker of a country! I'm not absolving the Police, but the Speaker is the number 4 citizen of the country and should lead by example and obey the constitution. He and the members of the Legislature should be castigated as behaving like animals. Nobody is really surprised by the Police, but rather surprised by the behaviour of our Reps who have no respect whatsoever of those who elected them into office.
ReplyDeleteOther politians defected too from APC to PDP. Why the witch- hunt? If your father was among the Lawmakers that jumped the fence, wouldyou have said Shame to the Lawmakers? Guy, be realistic.
ReplyDeleteMr Wole, you are gradually degenerating in integrity and you're fast loosing ur respect as a literary giant. How can you talk like an educated illiterate? OK! You've joined in playing the script of APC. Shame will cover all of you come 2015. Stop insulting the office of the president pls. Goodluck have done no wrong neither the IG. Tambuwale will soon meet his doom.
ReplyDeletena today yash dey back.if wole thinks the president encourages impunity,would it not b wise to to hav access to the d presidency and giv ur advice,rada dan callin press conferece to insult ur president.u are an atheis so u dnt kw wat God said abt insultin ppl in leadership.pray das wat d scriptures said.fool.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for this country. We are really on the brink of a precipice. May GOD continues to guide and protect us. Here is a country in which the President has surrounded himself with people that are already stinking before their death. Also, the President's attack dogs are always there to justify the most unreasonable of actions and decisions in governance. I am highly disappointed because they have sacrificed the truth on the altar of crass opportunism.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for this country. We are really on the brink of a precipice. May GOD continues to guide and protect us. Here is a country in which the President has surrounded himself with people that are already stinking before their death. Also, the President's attack dogs are always there to justify the most unreasonable of actions and decisions in governance. I am highly disappointed because they have sacrificed the truth on the altar of crass opportunism.
ReplyDeleteWhat's really wrong with us in this country? Can't we think straight again? So shameful that even the youth can't even identify between wrong and write, what thus future holds for us? I can't imagine Nigerian commenting like this. Can't we even look issues constructively before you comment either you are PDP or APC or APGA atleast let's comment constructively without being partisan not like bunch of nincompoops we all have elders at home, if you have any contrary opinion just let's hear your view.
ReplyDeleteKongi, if it were in the US when FBI seals Congress for security concerns the congressmen will attempt to pull down the gate and thereafter climb over the gate abi? Kongi, is that correct?
ReplyDeleteA cultist lecture here for you all. Someone who brought death and violence to Nigerian academic institutions is lecturing us about civility?
ReplyDeleteWole Soyinka, you should stop being irresponsible as you were when you were the head of Vikings, a cult group ….you were a cultist at the university of Ibadan and dont think we have forgotten your roots. Who gave you the guts to open your mouth and talk about another person’s wife? Is it even cultured to abuse a woman, not to talk of the wife of the president and in public? Who does that? Pls take a good look at yourself , you look like a wild mad man who has lived in the bush for more than 20 years….just look at your hair and face…. so saying that Jonathan is worse than Nebuchadnezzar is quite a joke. You think you can bully your way into Aso Rock? Irresponsible man. If you dont know what to do with the Nobel Laurette you were given, then you are better off staying in your home quietly and healing from cancer pls. You say Mrs Jonathan is an illiterate…since you married an educated woman, I wonder why she hasnt influenced you to behave properly or isnt politeness the first trait educated people should have???
ReplyDelete