Wole Soyinka Criticizes Tinubu for Failure to Highlight Police Brutality During National Address

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde

As reactions from different quarters and strata of the Nigerian society trail the early Sunday morning national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the state of the nation, nobel laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticize the President for failing to capture and respond to reported cases of police brutality and unprofessional policing conducts during the nationwide protests.

Prof. Wole Soyinka who disclosed that he eagerly awaited President Tinubu's address, setting his alarm clock to watch his speech in order to know the President's plans to address the ongoing crisis, expressed his disappointment with the fact that Mr.President failed to specifically highlight the brutal use of lethal weapons by the police against unarmed Nigerian protester in some parts of the country.

According to Soyinka, "the Government's initiatives to prevent such incidents since their inception will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized for their effectiveness and analyzed in depth. "

Disappointed, Wole Soyinka said;"However, my main concern is the worsening state management of protests, an area where the President's speech was notably lacking. This neglect of civic needs unfortunately empowers security forces to act with impunity, trapping the nation in a vicious cycle of resentment and retaliation. "

He further noted that "The use of live ammunition against protesters is the central issue. Even the use of tear gas is often inappropriate, especially against peaceful demonstrations.".

Soyinka laments that marches are a universal cry for help, not unique to Nigeria. They are a critical signal that the public is at a breaking point and a test of the Government's responsiveness to public desperation. 

"The violent response to the ongoing hunger marches across the country, despite prior warnings, is a step backward, even worse than the deadly consequences of the ENDSARS protests."

He said, It harks back to colonial-era disdain, reminiscent of the oppression that inspired Hubert Ogunde’s folk opera "Bread and Bullets," which led to his persecution and the banning of his work by the colonial Government.

Security agencies in the nation must acknowledge and adopt more advanced and humane models of security intervention.

The nationwide Yellow Vest movement in France during 2022/23 provides a relevant example. It would be beneficial to include such scenarios in police training programs. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija further reports as stated by Soyinka,that "throughout the coverage of those protests, not once did I witness a firearm aimed at protesters, let alone fired, even during direct confrontations."

Soyinka stated that the practice of responding with bullets when people who are asking for bread is a dangerous regression and often leads to more severe unrest and even revolutions. 

It is high time for security agencies to abandon outdated and lethal methods permanently. 

In addition, no country is too underdeveloped or insecure to set a positive example. By recalling its history and committing to change, a nation can break the cycle of violent responses to civic protests. 

"Today's protesters might consider adopting songs from Hubert Ogunde’s "Bread and Bullets" to remind the authorities of their colonial past and the urgent need for progress. One way or another, this destructive cycle must end," Soyinka concluded.