MF Soyinka also speaks on Amotekun and the hiring of foreign mercenaries.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has condemned the insecurity across Nigeria, saying the nation’s sovereignty has been taken over by armed groups.



He also said President Muhammadu Buhari needs to do more to stop Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements who threaten Nigeria’s security.

Mr Soyinka said these during an interview on Arise Television programme on Saturday.

“From a self-protective point of view, it is a common problem (insecurity); it is a national, collective issue. Don’t just sit there and think that you can solve it from Aso Rock, no. This now concerns even the lowest common citizens in this nation because that lowest, that most impotent individual has become a prime target. So, it’s a collective issue.

“Instead of that, what do I hear? Somebody gets on the podium and say, ‘The sovereignty of this nation cannot be challenged.’ Please, don’t let us hear any more of that rubbish.

The sovereignty of this nation is in the hands of the murdering herdsmen.The sovereignty of this nation has already been taken over by Boko Haram, it’s been taken over by ISWAP, it’s been taken over by those with absolutely no respect for what is called national integrity,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES has reported about several cases of insecurity across Nigeria with killings and kidnappings now common.

Apart from the activities of the terrorist group Boko Haram in the Northeast, armed bandits routinely attack communities in Northwest Nigeria, killing and kidnapping residents.

Kidnapping for ransom and attacks by armed herdsmen is also commonplace in many other parts of Nigeria.
QIn many cases, government officials engage in negotiations with the bandits and kidnappers, sometimes leading to the payment of ransom.

Mr Soyinka, in the interview, frowned at making payments to armed groups.He said it is unreasonable for leaders “to pay protection money to killers instead of dealing with that cancer in the only way which they should which, is excision, to take out killers instead of giving them money. You don’t appease evil and we are dealing with evil; there is no other word, we are dealing with the proliferation, the enthronement of evil in the society. And unfortunately, we have encouraged its manifestation, its proliferation, its entrenchment.”

He also declared support for the call by some Nigerians including the Borno State governor for the government to hire foreign mercenaries to help battle Boko Haram.

“I’m not surprised some governors now say let us reach outside help; it’s something I have said also. I don’t say mercenaries necessarily, but this has gone beyond a Nigerian problem.

“So, let them get away with the issue of sovereignty. If they have to pay people to come and help us, then call them whatever you want. Please go ahead because we’ve reached that stage of desperation,” he said.

Speaking further, Mr Soyinka said the president appointed wrong people into offices, a claim that has often been made by Nigerians on social media and has on several occasions led to the call on Mr Buhari to sack all service chiefs.

“There are those on whose shoulders must be placed the primary responsibility and that include some former Heads of State who refused to see the inevitability of what we are going through right now.

“I am very glad that the northern elite are now speaking up, boldly and practically now taking measures which they should have taken years ago. They’ve moved beyond the unbelievable policies of actually paying killers to stop killing.”

Speaking on the activities of Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, the professor said the operatives must be trained in order not to become the next SARS.

“I have told them that anytime they want us to come and assist; we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS. We must do everything together.”

The sovereignty of this nation is in the hands of the murdering herdsmen.The sovereignty of this nation has already been taken over by Boko Haram, it’s been taken over by ISWAP, it’s been taken over by those with absolutely no respect for what is called national integrity,” 

Racoon:

Simply because BH and their sponsors are in charge.

yanabasee:
Truly speaking.You dare not bite the fingers that brought you into power.The abduction of chinook girls and the massive killing of Borno state indigenes before the 2015 elections was a total plan of power exchange....

For that, the current ruling power will have to service the herdsmen, Boko Haram and bandits for the rest of their regime.BTW, I believe that Soyinka should openly apologize to Nigerians for bringing into power this menace.....

He also declared support for the call by some Nigerians including the Borno State governor for the government to hire foreign mercenaries to help battle Boko Haram.

“I’m not surprised some governors now say let us reach outside help; it’s something I have said also. I don’t say mercenaries necessarily, but this has gone beyond a Nigerian problem.

He said it is unreasonable for leaders “to pay protection money to killers instead of dealing with that cancer in the only way which they should which, is excision, to take out killers instead of giving them money. You don’t appease evil and we are dealing with evil; there is no other word, we are dealing with the proliferation, the enthronement of evil in the society. And unfortunately, we have encouraged its manifestation, its proliferation, its entrenchment.”

post=97935165:
..May it never ever be well with each and every politicians that brought this evil Boko Haram into Nigeria, and to those sponsoring them.Along with all their supporters

"...The founder of Specialized Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection,(STTEP), Eeben Barlow, has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari stopped them from carrying on fighting Boko-Haram terrorists in Nigeria in 2015.

In a Facebook post, Barlow said their proposal was antagonised and politicised by Buhari and his team “even before they assumed office...."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/guardian.ng/news/how-buhari-stopped-us-from-fighting-boko-haram-south-african-mercenary/amp

Racoon:
Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!

PHijo:
This is the "change" he supported in 2014/2015! Apart from hate or ethnic extremism I don't see what will make an educated man like him support this mess some people call a government. Sane people knew it wouldn't end well, their failure just surpassed anything we could imagine.

post=97935252:
Thank for saying Amen to this prayer for the first time in 3 years.So shall it be.All the evil politicians that brought this evil Boko Haram into Nigeria and sponsoring them will never end well in life along with all their supporters that want them back in power to continue from where they stopped.

BeeBeeOoh:
This Soyinka no get shame for face at all.



Honestly, If I were Wole Soyinka, I would have stayed on a low key because I helped in the enthronement of this catastrophe called Buhari.