Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has charged the Federal Government to apologise to Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho over last Thursday’s invasion of his home.
Soyinka spoke with BBC News Pidgin on Monday, condemning the Department of State Services (DSS) for declaring Igboho wanted after wreaking havoc in his home, terming it a “criminal” act.
The octogenarian said that Igboho’s actions in seeking the protection of his people from wanton attacks were not wrong since the Federal Government appeared not to be living up to its responsibilities.
“My advice to the government is that they should stop pursuing this person as a criminal because you have begun by acting in a criminal fashion against him.
“If and when Igboho comes to trial, I guarantee you the government will be very embarrassed.
“I think they should tell Igboho, ‘We made a mistake, we should not have acted in this way, you are no longer wanted, go back to your home’. In fact, escort him to his home and let him resume his normal life,” Soyinka said.
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The Nobel laureate faulted the Federal Government for not declaring AK-47 wielding herdsmen as terrorists waging a war on Nigeria.
He said that it also should have arrested the leaders of Miyetti Allah over some of their utterances and actions.
He also berated the Federal Government over the manner of the re-arrest of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“It’s not for me to tell the President to prepare himself because it’s going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested comes out. People are alleging this or that. That is one phase whether Nigeria has acted outside international law.
“The second issue, however, has to do with Kanu’s conduct outside the nation. There’s been a level of hate rhetoric which has been unfortunate, from Kanu. Hate rhetoric is an issue that can only be judged by the laws of any nation.
“Was it right to have been kidnapped? You can say ‘intercepted’ as much as you want, but I think Kanu was kidnapped. That is wrong internationally and morally,” Soyinka said.
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