Nkan bé, everybody is now calling out President Jonathan. A Nigerianeye.com reporter who was at a press parley where Professor Wole Soyinka addressed the media today reports thus;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish adherence to
conspiratorial, illegal and unconstitutional instructions.”
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