"if and when Igboho come to trial, government will be embarrassed, apologize to him" Soyinka

 

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to apologise and stop pursuing Sunday Igboho following the invasion of the latter’s house by officials of the Department of State Services.

Recall the DSS invaded Igboho’s house in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, July 1, based on intelligence said it had received that he (Sunday Igboho) was stockpiling arms to cause chaos within the region amid his Yoruba Nation rally held on Saturday, July 3 at Ojota area of Lagos.

Speaking with BBC Pidgin on Monday, the literary icon said the actions by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government following the invasion of Igboho’s home “stinks”.

Advising the federal government on the way forward, Soyinka said; “They should stop pursuing Igboho 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.”

According to Soyinka, the criminal activities of enemies of Nigeria who “appear to be supported by the force of the State” motivated Igboho’s fight for freedom.

The Professor, however, suggested the country must be restructured through the decentralisation of power, noting he doesn’t ‘like the sound of a Yoruba Nation’ anymore than he likes the sound of a Tiv or Igbo nation.