Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, expressed criticism towards President Bola Tinubu's national address on Sunday, noting the absence of direct acknowledgement of the violent crackdown by security forces on #EndBadGovernance protesters.
In a formal statement, Soyinka raised concern over the President's oversight of this critical issue.
Soyinka deliberately ensured not to miss President Bola Tinubu's long-anticipated national address on the current unrest across the nation.
While acknowledging the government's efforts in attempting to prevent such outbursts since its inception, he emphasized the President's failure to adequately address the escalating government control of protest activities.
The use of live ammunition in response to peaceful protests was a primary concern for Soyinka.
He highlighted the need for the government to recognize hunger marches as a universal distress signal, urging a more restrained approach to security intervention.
Drawing historical parallels, he underscored the consequences of resorting to lethal means by security agencies, urging a transformative shift away from colonial-era practices.
Soyinka referenced the 2022/23 editions of the YELLOW VEST movement in France as a potential model for policing intervention, advocating for the adoption of non-lethal approaches.
He concluded by emphasizing the urgent need to break the cycle of violent responses against civic society to avert further social upheavals and revolutions.
In essence, Prof. Soyinka's critique reflects a deep concern for the current state of protest management and a call for a fundamental shift in security approaches to better address the plight of citizens and avoid potential national crises.
Post a Comment