Wole Soyinka lambastes the Presidency over November 20 National Assembly row, others

Soyinka and Jonathan

NOBEL laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Tuesday called on Nigerians to rise up in defence of the sacred institutions of democracy whcih he claimed are regularly being desecrated by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

At a press conference in Lagos on the state of the nation, Soyinka flayed what he described as the reign of impunity as manifested by some recent actions of the administration.

He particularly flayed the lockout of legislators from the National Assembly and the disruption of academic activities during the recent visit of the President to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Soyinka said the administration had pushed Nigerians to a point where they must decide to either submit to impunity or resist it. He thus praised the members of the National Assembly who scaled the fence to reach their point of duty, saying that was their finest hour.

The Nobel laureate, however, sided with the administration in the condemnation of the United States of America’s refusal to sale arms to Nigeria to support the fight against the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram.

He said the US must overlook the Nigerian government’s inability to protect its citizens and render help.

Soyinka in his speech entitled: King Nebuchadnezzar: The Reign of Impunity, particularly chided the new Inspector General of Police, Abba Suleiman for not wasting time after his appointment to inaugurate a season of brutish power.

The people must decide

His words: “The people must decide— whether to submit or to resist. We may be no-count plebeians in the sight of the new born patricians of Aso Rock and their apologist but must we revert to the Abacharian status of glorified slaves? Of course it is up to any people to decide. The praetorian guards have been let loose to teach the rabble their place.

“The recent choice of a new leader for the guard was clearly no accident, and this hitherto enforcer has wasted no time in inaugurating a season of brutish power. When a people’s elected emissaries are disenfranchised, cast out like vagrants and resort to scaling fences to engage in their designated functions, the people get the message.

“The latest action of the supposed guardians of the law against the nation’s law givers is an unambiguous declaration of war on the people.

“What sticks to this policeman is worse than shame, it is infamy. Such a public servant deserves to be publicly pilloried, tried and meted a punishment that is appropriate to treasonable acts. To demand less is to reduce ourselves below the status of free citizens of a free nation.

“For this latest outrage, one in an escalating series of impunity, the buck stops yet again at the presidency, and that incumbent, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, continues to surprise us in ways that a very few could have conjectured.

Democracy rendered meaningless

Noting the potential dangers to democracy by the actions of the president, he said:
“Nothing is more unworthy of leadership than to degrade a 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. We know of course that this is not the first of its kind in the nation’s history, but precedents are not binding. Each leader selects his or her own model for emulation or avoidance and that choice is certain indication of the true nature of such a leader.

“I don’t understand why some media have described their action as a show of shame – this is a very careless, easily misapplied designation. The act of scaling gates and walls to fulfill their duty by the people must be set down as their finest hour. They must be applauded, not derided. If shame belongs anywhere, it belongs to the Inspector-General of Police and his slavish adherence to conspiratorial, illegal and unconstitutional instructions – to undermine a democratic structure, and one – to make matters worse – convoked in response to an emergency of dire public concern.”

While noting that Nigeria had in the past suffered under other partisan police bosses such as Sunday Adewusi, he expressed concern that Suleiman Abba may bring far more casualties.

These are not ordinary times

“Every day records new violation of our humanity. The atrocious targeting of the great mosque of Kano has rendered any lingering doubt of impending national imposition an invitation for collective suicide, preferably through piecemeal dismemberment.

“The shambles that punctuated a presidential campaign visit at the Obafemi Awolowo University a few days ago merely underline the total alienation of President Jonathan from the reality that has engulfed the nation.

“Yes, political campaigns are part and parcel of the bloodline of the democratic process. We know they never stop.

One judges leaders on acts

“I shall not insist that the biblical figure of Nebuchadnezzar is uniquely apt for the pivotal figure of the ‘democratic’ history in the making at this moment. For one thing, Nebu was a nation builder and a warrior. One could argue even more convincingly for the figure of Balthazar, his successor, or indeed Emperor Nero as reference point. You all remember him – the emperor who took to fiddling while Rome was burning.

“However, you should easily recall why I opted for King Nebu – the figure that currently sits on the top of our political pile himself evoked it, albeit in a context that virtuously disclaimed any similarities, even tendencies.

“Perhaps, he meant it at the time when he claimed: ‘I am no Nebuchadnezzar.’ Perhaps not. One judges leaders on acts however, not pronouncements, which are often as reliable as electoral promises.”

Faults US refusal to sell arms to Nigeria

“I want to appeal to the Americans to please stop laughing at us. They should stop ridiculing this nation. The government claimed that it asked for Cobra Helicopters. The government of Jonathan asked for little weapons to destroy the enemies. We are in a situation of destroy or to be destroyed.

“They asked for the weapons even for self-defence, I think the Americans should not boast of what they have done to supply assistance to vulnerable affected households. All are laudable and nobody is in disagreement with them. These are necessities.

“But this is not the response I expect to the situation of war. This nation is at war. And this nation is asking for certain forms of assistance. Please United States of America, could you please overlook the arithmetical deficiency of governance and stop giving an excuse to this government for failing to protect us.

“Please just say that you will not supply arms to Nigeria and leave it at that. Don’t say that you sent other things, that is not the issue at this critical time in Nigeria.”

The Presidency took a swipe at Professor Wole Soyinka, saying the government is the most liberal.

In a text message to Vanguard, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the presidency urged the literary giant to also attack Governor Rotimi Amaechi for his statements which were capable of overheating the polity.

Okupe said, “Our eminent Professor also sadly plays the ostrich as he failed to reprimand Governor Rotimi Amaechi who is the national champion of impunity and official reckless ness.

“The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan prides itself as the most liberal, keeping faith with adherence to rule of law and tolerance.