Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said that the cancellation of 2Face Idibia planned protest was a deep embarrassment and a national shame ‘triggered by the state’s attempt to water down the criminal code against corruption’ and that the police reversed the hands of the democratic clock. Wole Soyinka in a an article on Saharareproters said the he had written a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, through the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state demanding that the protest be allowed so as to respect and safeguard the constitutional rights of Nigerians. Read full article here Noble Lareate, Playwriter and Poet, Prof Wole Soyika Saturday (Saturday, Feb 4), the media offered the nation a space of relief when it carried the expected news of a mutual accommodation reached by the organizers of the demonstration planned for tomorrow Monday February 6th. The theme in summary: public discontent with the state of the nation and its governance. From the beginning, the organizers had cited quite an extensive list of such areas of concern and demands for urgent attention. To my personal consternation, today’s (Sunday) the same media countered that announcement with a stiff repudiation from the apex of the Police command – the office of the Inspector-General. It is such a huge disappointment, and a disservice to the cause of democracy, tolerance of dissent, and principle of inclusive governance. An unnecessary but important reminder: the battle for the right of lawful assembly of citizens in any cause, conducted peacefully, has been fought and won several times over. It is time that this contest is gracefully conceded. It must be consolidated by its routineness as a choice of action at the front of any people’s democratic participation. This battle has been won legally, constitutionally, and even morally. It enjoys near global acceptance as one of the means of actualizing the protocols of a people’s Fundamental Human Rights. It comes therefore as a deep embarrassment and a national shame that this latest attempt at denial of these protocols rears its head at a time when one of the largest gatherings of humanity is taking place in one of the former totalitarian states of Eastern Europe – Romania. Its size has been assessed as the largest in former Eastern Europe since the fall of the Berlin wall. It was triggered by the state attempt to water down the criminal code against corruption and has brought out hundreds of thousands of people into the streets and stadia, day after day, until the much-awaited announcement of the withdrawal of the obnoxious decree. This should resonate within the current Nigerian governance that has made the anti-corruption crusade its mantra. The Police attempt to reverse the hands of the democratic clock is even more appalling at a time when open demonstrations are taking place all over the world against the policies of a recently elected president of the United States, whose democratic formula this nation allegedly serves as Nigeria’s adopted model. Across numerous states of that federated nation, ongoing at this very moment, is the public expression of rejection of a president’s policy that has also pitted the Executive against the judiciary. We have heard of no preventive action by the police, nor arrests of demonstrators. Again and again, efforts, both under military and civilian orders have been made to stifle the rights to freedom of expression by Nigerian governments – Buhari, Babangida, Obasanjo, Abacha, Jonathan….and now again, Buhari? These efforts have been, and will always be resisted. It is a moral issue, as old as settled humanity. It has been settled in other parts of the world. Nigeria cannot be an exception, not as long as her citizens refuse to accept the designation of second, even third-rate citizens. I have sent a message to the Inspector-General of Police, through the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, urging both to respect and safeguard the constitutional rights of the people. I hope that, even at this eleventh hour, legality and the democratic imperative will prevail. Finally, I shall be less than honest if I do not add the following, mostly directed as a warning to the very polity on whose behalf the democratic war is joined, again and again:

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/cancelled-protest-national-shame-embarrassment-soyinka/

Baba de baba!!

You've still not torn your us passport / documents?

Why don't he go and lead the protest himself?

Olu20090:
Why don't he go and lead the protest himself?

He led too many already. It is time you pick up the baton from where he left.

hhmm.... wetin person no go see?

This old man still dey talk?

Was he planning to join us?
Isaac Boro Park,PH tomorrow!!!
Abeg PH people make Una commout, make only me no go dey there!!

Olu20090:
Why don't he go and lead the protest himself?

You're an idiott. How old are you?

Make your grandpa dey lead protest for you while you wail on Nairaland

vicadex07:
[s]

You're an idiott. How old are you?

Make your grandpa dey lead protest for you while you wail on Nairaland[/s]

Are you okay?

Tuface got no balls.
No wonder his life isn't controlled by what is in between the woman legs. #Shame

Prof your silence was too loud. But at least you finally spoke. Thank you Baba.

NLSniper:
Was he planning to join us?
Isaac Boro Park,PH tomorrow!!!
Abeg PH people make Una commout, make only me no go dey there!!

You never know anything. Na only you go dey there, dey sing "We no go gree o, we no go gree".

click Like for fowl, click Share for Buhari!

They sold buhari to nigerians. Any of them dat feels the need to protest shd take the lead. Let dem stp blaming tuface,..niggaz got plenty of life and enjoyment lined up b4 him jor . He musnt gamble with it just 2 satisfy oldmen dat sold buhari as the best thing since slice bread

Hmmm, even soyinka is talking, Nigeria is finished.

Am sorry for saying but I think Prof is old in thinking always talking from both mouth