Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent nationwide address for failing to acknowledge the violent crackdowns on #EndBadGovernance protesters by security forces. The protests, which have continued for four days, reflect the public’s frustration with escalating economic hardships, poverty, and ineffective governance.
In a statement released on Sunday, Soyinka expressed his disappointment in Tinubu’s address. “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 the 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,” he stated.
Soyinka highlighted his concern about the state’s handling of the protests, pointing out the use of live bullets and tear gas against peaceful demonstrators. “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,” he remarked.
You Can Also Read: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike: Senator Allegedly Sponsors #EndBadGovernance Protest
Soyinka underscored the importance of recognizing hunger marches as a universal call for help, not unique to Nigeria. He emphasized that these peaceful protests should not be met with violence. His critique calls for a reassessment of how the government and security agencies respond to civic demonstrations, urging for a more humane and effective approach.
