Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s national address concerning the ongoing protests in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, Soyinka expressed his disappointment and concern over the government’s approach to managing the protests.
Soyinka acknowledged the government’s remedial actions since its inception but emphasized that the president’s address inadequately addressed the handling of the protests.
He condemned the use of live bullets and tear gas against peaceful protesters, calling it a “retrogression” reminiscent of colonial-era repression.
Soyinka remarked, “I made sure to watch President Bola Tinubu’s much-anticipated address on the current unrest in the nation. While his outline of the government’s actions will be analyzed for effectiveness, my main concern is the worsening management of protests, an area where the address fell short.
“The inappropriate use of force against peaceful protests arms security forces with impunity and traps the nation in a cycle of resentment and reprisals. The use of live bullets is particularly concerning. Even tear gas, in most situations, is an abuse when used against peaceful protesters. Hunger marches are a universal call for help, not unique to Nigeria, and should prompt a compassionate response from the government.
“The tragic handling of the current hunger marches signals a backward step, reminiscent of the deadly ENDSARS protests and colonial-era disdain. This response echoes the themes of Hubert Ogunde’s folk opera ‘BREAD AND BULLETS,’ which criticized such repression and faced persecution from the colonial government.”
Soyinka urged the nation’s security agencies to adopt more civilized methods of intervention, referencing the French “Yellow Vest” movement as an example of non-lethal protest management. “In all the coverage I saw of the Yellow Vest protests, not once did I see guns aimed at protesters, even during direct confrontations.
“Responding with bullets when bread is pleaded for is a dangerous regression, leading to more desperate upheavals and potential revolutions. It is time to permanently abandon lethal responses by security agencies. Any nation, regardless of its development level, can choose to set a positive example by recalling its history and committing to a lasting transformation away from lethal responses to civil unrest.
“Today’s marchers might consider adopting the songs from Hubert Ogunde’s ‘BREAD AND BULLETS’ to remind us all of the need to break free from the cycle of colonial-era repression. This cycle must be broken.”
