Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, has expressed doubts about his belief in Nigeria. In response to the controversy surrounding the presidential election results, he stated that removing time servers who had taken up leadership positions in the country would be a step towards the right direction. Soyinka observed that democracy in Nigeria had crumbled, with violence, tyranny, and misinformation becoming the norm.
Soyinka noted that the ongoing contest for Nigerian democracy had witnessed much innovation, mostly in a regressive direction. Violence, ethnic profiling, and spiritual warfare had been deployed to intimidate dissenting voices. Protecting structures from partisan influences and material inducements, according to the professor, would pave the way for a revolution in the country.
Soyinka acknowledged that Project NIGERIA had become a source of soul-searing frustration, causing him to question his belief in it. He insisted that Nigeria must rid itself of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time servers. A revolution, he said, would require a clear sense of purpose and the willingness to accept costly errors. Revolution, he added, should not be based on speculative power entitlement.
In conclusion, Soyinka emphasized that a symbol should not be blindly followed, even when it emerges. Every aspect of what is on offer must be examined, and freedom must be guarded every inch of the way.
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