Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka says Nigeria is on a “suicide slide” that only quick decentralisation can halt.
He stated that the tempo of disintegration has accelerated in the last couple of years, perhaps more than any time since the Civil War.
The octogenarian spoke on Monday during an interview aired by Arise TV.
Soyinka said Nigeria might not remain as one unless the nation was quickly decentralised to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.
“On this so-called democracy, we are embarking on a nose-dive or what I will describe as suicide slide and Buhari needs to listen to all different agitations and initiatives which are taking place around him.
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“He should recognise the fact that the tempo of disintegration of this country has accelerated in the last couple of years beyond anything we ever knew since the civil war, and I’m not sure Nigeria can remain as one if we fail to decentralise.
“If Nigeria fails to decentralise as fast as possible, in such a way that people will see it manifesting, then Nigeria cannot stay together. If a nation is on suicide slide, the people who feel that they do not deserve that kind of suicidal slide have a right to say sorry, we are getting off this plane before it nose-dived.
“I am beginning to believe that people have different definitions for democracy, particularly our political leaders and I’m beginning to wonder whether this government, led by Buhari, really understands the implication and full responsibility and commitment involved when people say they are practising democracy.”
Reacting to the Twitter ban, Soyinka said it was an indication that the Buhari administration was not ready to listen to the people.
“In truncating various channels of expression open to any populace, you are actually abrogating the very essence of democracy. Democracy is not sequence or symbolic gestures of June 12 as Democracy Day.
“When you truncate any channel of self-expression of people, you literarily become an enemy of democracy.
“Also the language used by Buhari in responding to agitation for secession is very unfortunate. Any sensitive leader must understand and respond to reasons behind those agitations, not to start to threaten, bully or intimidate people,” he said.
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