Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Wednesday said that the docility of Nigerians was responsible for the impunity among the political class.

This is as the renowned Kenyan born good governance activist has lamented that Nigeria and indeed the African countries reward corrupt leaders with re-election.



They spoke at the 24th edition of the Wole Soyinka Lecture Series organized by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) held via zoom with the theme National Conference Against Impunity.

In his remarks, Professor Soyinka said every Nigerian should take responsibility for allowing impunity thrive in the country, adding that the country was paying for not being able to protest and denounce impunity in the country.

The Nobel Laureate, who noted that all the dire events that have overtaken and overwhelm Nigeria were traceable to impunity, pointed out that the topic was timely considering that it was instructive for Nigerians and that it was not late to reverse the trend.


According to him, “I would probably expect that from different perspectives in terms of timing, there might be disagreement I am absolute certain that we would agree that one of the major reasons for the dilemma we are undergoing in this country right now is that we permitted, we nurtured, we even encouraged either by actions or inactions, the mindset of impunity both in leadership and among the people.

“We ourselves are equally guilty. We ourselves allowed it. We watched it happened. We didn’t take to the streets to protest it, to denounce it, to warn of the consequences. Oh yes there were warnings here and there but they were not concerted and structured. So it is not too late to reverse the trend. But at least we must first begin a frank, honest and objective dialogue.”

The keynote speaker, Prof Patrick Lumunba in his paper stated that the issue of impunity was not peculiar to Nigeria alone but permeates the African continent.


He lamented that rather than be enraged by impunity, Nigerians and Africans “have rewarded corrupt leaders with re-election.”

He said, “It is pertinent to ask why Nigeria which had such great promise continues to wallow in the lower rungs of human development. Why are Africans and Nigerians silent in the face of impunity? Why in the words of Wole Soyinka has the man in us died?”

He further said that people should hold themselves responsible for refusing to act and being part of the misfortune that has befallen the country, adding, “Despite the impunity by our public office holders, by some miracle, we are not enraged! It would also seem that we have lost the gift of disgust. Why is this so, who cursed us?


“We are the co-authors of our own misfortune because we have lost our values and now resort to religion. We now choose to apply faith instead of logic, elevating the principle of ‘Donothingnism’. We have created leaders who have arrogated themselves the monopoly of wisdom and the country is now run in a narrow and primordial fashion.”

Lumumba, however, said in the midst of the gloom, the people must remain hopeful and ensure impunity does not triumph by holding leaders accountable.

Also speaking the Ombudsman, ThisDay/Arise News TV Media Group, Mr Kayode Komolafe noted that impunity in socio-economic policies is pervasive.

Komolafe, who corroborated Soyinka that impunity thrives because it is permitted and that there is a class narration to the issue of impunity.

The former Deputy Managing Director of ThisDay regretted that Nigerians have not made accountability the bedrock of democracy in the country which allows leaders not be asked questions, stressing that country’s system reinforces impunity.

Other speakers, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Ms Cynthia Mbamalu and Prof Pat Utomi advocated for concerted efforts from the people to end impunity.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/our-docility-responsible-for-thriving-impunity-in-nigeria-soyinka/amp/

No, Nigerians are not docile. Nigerians have a murderous security forces that kill civilians with impunity.
EndSars proved it.
QED.

The audacity of the words below! Especially the bolded

“We ourselves are equally guilty. We ourselves allowed it. We watched it happened. We didn’t take to the streets to protest it, to denounce it, to warn of the consequences. Oh yes there were warnings here and there but they were not concerted and structured. So it is not too late to reverse the trend. But at least we must first begin a frank, honest and objective dialogue.”

onumadu:
No, Nigerians are not docile. Nigerians have a murderous security forces that kill civilians with impunity.
EndSars proved it.
QED.

You are right.
Prof. Wole Shoyinla is very right.

Instead of fighting with security forces.... why can't the south shut down the economy for like 1 or 2 weeks because i know that northerners won't buy imto the idea because they control the killer armed forces and the people running the government with impunity.

The truth cannot be farfetched from what Prof. Said

mariahAngel:
The audacity of the words below! Especially the bolded

“We ourselves are equally guilty. We ourselves allowed it. We watched it happened. We didn’t take to the streets to protest it, to denounce it, to warn of the consequences. Oh yes there were warnings here and there but they were not concerted and structured. So it is not too late to reverse the trend. But at least we must first begin a frank, honest and objective dialogue.”

Wetin Pale dey ask for, make we pour for street, no be kill dem kill endsars protesters?

You experienced Buhari in 1984 and went ahead to endorse him in 2015. Compound fool.

SirBlack999:
You experienced Buhari in 1984 and went ahead to endorse him in 2015. Compound fool.

Na all of dem wey call him reformed democrat.
Lalasticlala.

ogododo:

Na all of dem wey call him reformed democrat.
Lalasticlala.

Look at them Lamenting right now. This injustice will reach everyone, even the otelectual. Everyone will collect. Lol

SirBlack999:

Look at them Lamenting right now. This injustice will reach everyone, even the otelectual. Everyone will collect. Lol

Na sugar cloth, it go soon reach everybody!

Mr man, sharap
You amongst others are the reason we're in this mess today

Mangekyo:
Mr man, sharap
You amongst others are the reason we're in this mess today

Isn’t your own father as guilty as our esteemed Noble Laureate?

SirBlack999:
You experienced Buhari in 1984 and went ahead to endorse him in 2015. Compound fool.

A bad tree can never yield good fruits, you are no different from them, are you not Nigerian? Show me your leaders, & I will tell you who you are?

it's people like Soyinka that should lead the struggle not the poor masses.

The Nigerian army and police won't shoot at a crowd lead by Nigeria's best, but they will and have shoot at crowds of protesters lead by the common man

Kudos prof, you couldn't have said it better

Did you not endorse bubu yourself?

Buckeyemedia1:
A bad tree can never yield good fruits, you are no different from them, are you not Nigerian? Show me your leaders, & I will tell you who you are?

If your father's pull out game was lit, you wouldn't be here quoting.

Buckeyemedia1:
Isn’t your own father as guilty as our esteemed Noble Laureate?

No, but your mother is

Mangekyo:


No, but your mother is

Wetin concern male & pale for mata.

Mynd44, Lalasticlala una dey see our noble laurrete abi wetin the award?

Baba should lead the protest.

Baba is ahoy sea dog, when he starts his boys will follow.

Charmingrascal:
Baba should lead the protest.

Baba is ahoy sea dog, when he starts his boys will follow.

No sailor again.

Cappo.

He is right

ur like are the leader of the gang

Naija.

Nahunger:
There is hunger
Huger in the land
Hunger in the Court room
Hunger in the country
I see people hungry
Ooh what a time to be alive
In a hungry part of the world

Hungerbad ooo.

How many protests has soyinka led in recent times,still encouraging people to protest despite the incessant killing,arresting and harassment of unharmed innocent protesters by the government.if you are too old to lead,envourage your own children to lead,people will follow...e don sweet them to dey spill poor men children blood.

Lanretoye:
How many protests has soyinka led in recent times,still encouraging people to protest despite the incessant killing,arresting and harassment of unharmed innocent protesters by the government.if you are too old to lead,envourage your own children to lead,people will follow...e don sweet them to dey spill poor men children blood.

Ahaha.

Nahunger:


Hunger is a terrible evil
That is the primary problem
In Africa, where there is hunger
There is no room for creative thinking
Where there is no creative thinking
There is no positive growth of any kind
Where there is no growth,
There is pain, tears, frustration and a
High level detoriation in rational thinking...
.....look at joblessness, poverty and insecurity in Nigeria and wonder why it keeps spreading like a whirlwind...
This is beyond prayers, all good people must do the needful no matter how small.

Or else there will be no hope for the future generations.

Na that dey make our leaders treat us like scum.