₦airaland Forum

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has said that President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address on Sunday failed to address the attacks on #EndBadGovernance protesters by security agencies.

Soyinka made the observation in a statement on Sunday following Tinubu’s address to the nation.

The #EndBadGovernance protests continued on Sunday, marking their fourth day, as demonstrators voiced their frustrations over the country's deepening economic hardship, escalating poverty, and ineffective governance.

Soyinka said, “I set my alarm clock for this morning to ensure that I did not miss President Bola Tinubu’s impatiently awaited address to the nation on the current unrest across the nation.

“His outline of government’s remedial action since inception, aimed at warding off just such an outbreak, will undoubtedly receive expert and sustained attention both for effectiveness and in content analysis. My primary concern, quite predictably, is the continuing deterioration of the state’s seizure of protest management, an area in which the presidential address fell conspicuously short.

“Such short-changing of civic deserving, regrettably, goes to arm the security forces in the exercise of impunity and condemns the nation to a seemingly unbreakable cycle of resentment and reprisals.

“Live bullets as state response to civic protest – that becomes the core issue. Even tear gas remains questionable in most circumstances, certainly an abuse in situations of clearly peaceful protest. Hunger marches constitute a universal S.O.S, not peculiar to the Nigerian nation. They belong indeed in a class of their own, never mind the collateral claims emblazoned on posters.

“They serve as summons to governance that a breaking point has been reached and thus, a testing ground for governance awareness of public desperation. The tragic response to the ongoing hunger marches in parts of the nation, and for which notice was served, constitutes a retrogression that takes the nation even further back than the deadly culmination of the watershed ENDSARS protests.

“It evokes pre-independence – that is, colonial - acts of disdain, a passage that induced the late stage pioneer Hubert Ogunde’s folk opera BREAD AND BULLETS, earning that nationalist serial persecution and proscription by the colonial government.”

Soyinka noted that the “nation’s security agencies cannot pretend unawareness of alternative models for emulation, civilized advances in security intervention”.

He said, “Need we recall the nationwide 2022/23 editions of what is generally known as the YELLOW VEST movement in France? Perhaps it is time to make such scenarios compulsory viewing in policing curriculum. In all of the coverage that I watched, I did not catch one single instance of a gun leveled at protesters, much less fired at them even during direct physical confrontations.

“The serving of bullets where bread is pleaded is ominous retrogression, and we know what that eventually proves – a prelude to far more desperate upheavals, not excluding revolutions.

The time is long overdue, surely, to abandon, permanently, the anachronistic resort to lethal means by the security agencies of governance. No nation is so under-developed, materially impoverished, or simply internally insecure as to lack the will to set an example. All it takes is to recall its own history, then exercise the will to commence a lasting transformation, inserting a break in the chain of lethal responses against civic society.

“Today’s marchers may wish to consider adopting the key songs of Hubert Ogunde’s BREAD AND BULLETS, if only to inculcate a sense of shame in the continuing failure to transcend the lure of colonial inheritance where we all were at the receiving end. One way or the other, this vicious cycle must be broken.”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/08/04/breaking-soyinka-criticises-tinubus-address-ignoring-states-brutal-crackdown#:~:text=Nobel%20laureate%20Prof.%20Wole%20Soyinka,Tinubu's%20address%20to%20the%20nation.

Of course, why ignoring that

This is insightful. Professor is now standing with the people. God bless prof👏🏼 this is the original Soyinka we are all used to.

“Today’s marchers may wish to consider adopting the key songs of Hubert Ogunde’s BREAD AND BULLETS, if only to inculcate a sense of shame in the continuing failure to transcend the lure of colonial inheritance where we all were at the receiving end. One way or the other, this vicious cycle must be broken.”

Yorubas are by far the most liberal group in Nigeria

They don't protest selectively. They go against u, either u are their son or not

Their protest against Tinubu already killed every accusations of Tribalism against them


They publicly go against him too, From Primate Ayodele,Sowore,Dele momodu,Falana and the only Nobel Prize winner in Nigeria Prof W.S.

What a tribe!

lyndire:
He found his gbajue voice finally

Smithkafors:
Tribalist…


It’s taking you years to say the truth.

God bless those who believe in doing the right thing

The earlier u understand that a world renowned Prof and a Nobel Prize winner isn't under obligation to impress u and your kinsmen, the better for your worries


He's 90, lived a great life already and cares less about some random dudes whose name will be forgotten in the next 100 years 😂 😂

Let’s know when he indicates interest to join the protesters like he did before,then we will take him serious!

It's well. It's voice came too late too soon.


Tinubu, a bad man with good intentions.

Is that all
How about giving assessment of tinubu's woeful performance so far.
Jonathan wasn't this bad before he and his colleagues marched on protest.

Tribalist…


It’s taking you years to say the truth.

God bless those who believe in doing the right thing

Those Obidients 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀 🐀, can't be satisfied. Dem go still insult/drag them papa

Wole Soyinka again? This one no fit hear word.

Maybe he should focus on writing plays instead of critiquing our leaders.

What has Peter Obi done to address the brutalities? Just talk and no action.

Critics should also consider that not every address can cover every angle. Let’s not act like we’re in a competition for who can throw more shade.

Really. When it become acceptable to massacre hungry Nigerians.it began unfortunately under Buhari. The shite massacre. Until all players are held accountable, from Buratai to The current CDS and IGp , the truth is that bullets will be worth more than Nigerian lives

That's how he will ignore everything he has said in the broadcast

The APC peeps here are so wicked and inhumane, there is no degree of support that I can support a politician that will make me support the injustice of attacking and killing protesters all over the country, Tinubu, a former serial protester, turned into a monster, that's pathetic.

Sahara reporters posted a video of people being attacked in Kano, beaten like they are nobodies, no wonder people who have good jobs here still wanna leave, there is no iota of justice here in this country.

This is no criticism at all. He just discussed his observation, saying that Tinubu didn't caution uniformed men attacking unarmed protesters.

Professor Wole Sonyinka should graduate to what he did to Patience Jonathan like calling Tinubu Ebola or Druggie. Yes, that's the Sonyinka we knew in the time of Jonathan.

Abeg go siddon

Soyinka should remember that governance is a complex maze. While criticism is valid, we must also acknowledge the efforts President Tinubu is making to navigate these turbulent waters. Every leader faces challenges, and constructive dialogue is key to progress.

Philipponzaghi:
Soyinka should remember that governance is a complex maze. While criticism is valid, we must also acknowledge the efforts President Tinubu is making to navigate these turbulent waters. Every leader faces challenges, and constructive dialogue is key to progress.

The effort of killing scores of protesters within 2 days of protest?

Cultist that has destroyed the lives of Youths in Nigeria

Soyinka is a disgrace!

Too late to cry when the head is off.

Georgry:



The APC peeps here are so wicked and inhumane, there is no degree of support that I can support a politician that will make me support the injustice of attacking and killing protesters all over the country, Tinubu, a former serial protester, turned into a monster, that's pathetic.

Sahara reporters posted a video of people being attacked in Kano, beaten like they are nobodies, no wonder people who have good jobs here still wanna leave, there is no iota of justice here in this country.

The wicked and inhumane ones are the cowards who organized protests online, incited violence only to declare sit-at-home when it's time for action.

Protests is good anywhere except their region.

Nobody should fall for this old man's antics.

Refuse to be easily deceived.

Story, Professor Gbajue, nobody takes you serious again please go and rest

Tjra:
The wicked and inhumane ones are the cowards who organized protests online, incited violence only to declare sit-at-home when it's time for action.

If I tell you to jump in front of the train. That I will follow suit. And you jump, then that's deceit.

If you say you want to jump in front of the train, and I say if you wan jump, jump, but me I no go jump. Is that deceit?

Gaslighters and propagandists. Igbo people put you all to shame. Your plans did not work. Go and continue crying about it ok.

Your mates are creating Igbo profiles on Twitter to try and gaslight Nigerians, you are here doing local propaganda.

Thewrath:
Let’s know when he indicates interest to join the protesters like he did before,then we will take him serious!

sheyb useless u get grandfather or elders around 90 in your family, go drag dem fr road , place placards fr dia hands na.. idiot 😹

CorrectionFLuid:
Nobody should fall for this old man's antics.

Refuse to be easily deceived.

A 90 years legend who has been doing this before you were conceived.

You think he's talking so you can hail him?

Truly, you guys are the pharaohs that do not know Joseph.

Soyinka should channel that energy into constructive dialogue instead of just criticism. Tinubu is doing his best to navigate these turbulent waters, and it’s essential we support him. Protests can be powerful, but let’s not forget the importance of peaceful engagement. The nation needs unity now more than ever!

CorrectionFLuid:
If I tell you to jump in front of the train. That I will follow suit. And you jump, then that's deceit.

If you say you want to jump in front of the train, and I say if you wan jump, jump, but me I no go jump. Is that deceit?

Gaslighters and propagandists. Igbo people put you all to shame. Your plans did not work. Go and continue crying about it ok.

Your mates are creating Igbo profiles on Twitter to try and gaslight Nigerians, you are here doing local propaganda.

Green Snakes

How is this a criticisms? Soyinka will never speak the truth to the power that be.

So Soyinka na your grandpa that must protest for you from his youth into his old dying years, while you curse and insult him for fighting your causes, abi.

As you run out or japa pointing left fingers to your villages.

Abeg, Soyinka die for dem like an old fool, you hia

Thewrath:
Let’s know when he indicates interest to join the protesters like he did before,then we will take him serious!

Cretin, you are blaming him now,But when he was sucking Ebola balls, you don't blame him.I haven't seen clowns like you guys.You should be put an oven and allow to char

Tjra:
A 90 years legend who has been doing this before you were conceived.

You think he's talking so you can hail him?

Truly, you guys are the pharaohs that do not know Joseph.

Cunning people get old too.

I don't see you referring to Obasanjo's age or Edwin Clark when you want to rubbish their statements.

Who dash am legend. Stop kidding yourself. Most nigerians don't even know a single book of his. And most don't care. They just know he's a writer. That's it.

And now they also know he's a sly snake.