Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole
Soyinka has warned the Department of State Services, DSS, to stop the charade
and display of crude and naked power by releasing the Convener, #RevolutionNow
protest, Omoyele Sowore still being kept in their custody despite meeting his
stringent bail conditions.
Operatives of the DSS had on
Tuesday fired gun shots and used pepper spray to disperse protesters who were
gathered around the service headquarters to demand for the release of Sowore.
Soyinka, in a statement he
personally issued late Tuesday night also said it should become abundantly
clear by now that Civil Society Organisations, committed to the entrenchment of
the Rule of Law and the defence of fundamental human rights must come together.
“This is not a new cry. They must
meet, debate, and embark on a binding pact of tactical responses whenever these
two pillars of civilized society are besieged by the demolition engines of
state security agencies. The sporadic, uncoordinated responses as in the case
of Omoyele Sowore, the absence of a
solid strategy, ready to be activated against any threat — these continue to enable
these agencies in their mission to enthrone a pattern of conduct that openly
scoffs at the role of the judiciary in national life.
“Result? A steady entrenchment of
the cult of impunity in the dealings of state with the citizenry – both
individuals and organizations. The level of arrogance has crossed even the most
permissive thresholds. It is heart-warming to witness the determined efforts
of “Concerned Nigerians” in defence of
these rights,” he said.
According to him, predictably,
the ham-fisted response of the DSS continued to defy the rulings of the court.
adding that the weaponry of lies having been exploded in their faces, they
resorted to violence, including, as now reported, the firing of live bullets.
“Why the desperation? The answer
is straightforward: the government never imagined that the bail conditions for
Sowore would ever be met. Even Sowore’s supporters despaired. The bail test was
clearly set to fail! It took a while for
the projection to be reversed, and it left the DSS floundering.
“That agency then resorted to
childish, cynical lies. It claimed that the ordered release was no longer in
their hands, but in Sowore’s end of the transfer. The lie being exploded, what
next? Bullets of course,” he said.
Soyinka said such a development
was not only callous and inhuman, but criminal, as it escalated an already
untenable defiance by the state.
“As I remarked from the onset,
this is an act of government insecurity and paranoia that merely defeats its
real purpose. And now – bullets? This is
no longer comical. Perhaps it is necessary to remind this government of
precedents in other lands where, even years after the event, those who trampled
on established human rights that generate homicidal impunity are called to
account for abuse of power and crimes against humanity.
“The protests for Sowore’s
release go beyond only acts of solidarity, they are manifestations of the
judgment and authority of courts of law, under which this nation is supposedly
governed. Either it is, or it isn’t. The answer stares us all in the face. The
principles that now fall under threat implicate more than one individual under
travail. They involve the very entitlement of a nation to lay claim to
membership of any democratic, humanized union,” he said.
The Nobel Laureate said “Enough
of this charade, nothing more than a display of crude, naked power. Release
Omoyele Sowore and save us further embarrassment in the regard of the world. An
apology to the nation by the DSS and the judiciary would also not be out of
place. It would go some distance in redeeming the image of an increasingly
fascistic agency and reduce the swelling tide of public disillusionment.
“Let the rule of law reign.
Failing that, have the honesty to proclaim the death of ordered society. Then
we’ll all know just where we stand.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com