There is a Big Systematic Failure in current Government- Wole Soyinka

There is a Big Systematic Failure in current Government- Wole Soyinka

NewsReport Nigeria May 9, 2021

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Prof. Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate, says he does not believe Nigerian unity can be achieved under the current regime of President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) due to systemic failure.

NewsReport Nigeria gathered that the Nobel Laureate,  Soyinka made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja at a book reading and signing for two of his books, titled ‘Trumpism in Academe’ and ‘Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth.’

This online information also learnt that the former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha had asked Soyinka to write a Nigerian story that would inspire patriotism and unity among the country’s various tribes.

In response, the playwright stated that without restitution and justice, no narrative could unite the people of Nigeria.

He explained that people in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps who had lost relatives and loved ones as a result of violence would not embrace any story of unity unless they received justice.

The Nobel laureate said Nigeria had lost a key opportunity to unite, adding that he didn’t believe the regime of Buhari could unite Nigeria because it suffered from systemic failure.

Soyinka added, “We had a critical moment and we lost that moment.  The moment when this country could have come together; and the sense of belonging, of oneness.

That vision of oneness. We squandered that opportunity. There was more than one moment, and we missed it. Will there be another? I’m not sure. To be honest, I don’t see it under this government right now.

“There is a failure, a systemic failure in current governance, and I’m not sure who can put it together.” These days, I try to avoid reading the newspapers on some days. It’s extremely depressing.”

Soyinka said he personally believed that Nigeria should not break up but should remain one entity.

He, however, argued that it was wrong of the government to continue to say the country’s unity was non-negotiable.