PROF. WOLE SOYINKA
JUNE 12: STOP SHOWING LOYALTY TO ABIOLA’S TORMENTOR, SOYINKA TELLS PRESIDENT
Renowned Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka has told President Buhari to stop showing loyalty to “Abiola’s tormentor.”
Twenty-five years after the military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday formally apologised to the family of the deceased who died in custody while struggling to reclaim his mandate.
In turn, the family of the deceased politician also apologised to the President for the wrongs Abiola did to him while he was still alive.
This played out at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where Buhari posthumously conferred the highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on Abiola.
At the ceremony, Buhari also conferred the second highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, on Abiola’s running mate in the election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; while he also honoured the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, with the same award posthumously.
Buhari said his decision to revisit the annulled election was not an attempt to open old wounds but to put right what had been done wrongly
In his statement, Soyinka urged president Buhari to stop confusing Nigerians by showing loyalty to an unnamed individual whom he referred to as Abiola’s tormentor.
There is the general belief that he must be referring to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha (retd.), who detained the business mogul for about five years until he died in detention.
Although Soyinka did not mention Abacha’s name specifically, the Nobel laureate said it was confusing for Buhari to honour Abiola on one hand, and be admiring the late politician’s tormentor on the other hand.
Soyinka said, “Most of what l wanted to say have been actually knocked off my mouth by one singular gesture: the presidential apology. It is a dimension which l did not expect from today’s ceremony.
“l had a lot to say, but fortunately the words have been taken off my mouth. However, l will like to make a request. Mr. President, since we are honouring heroes of democracy today, l will like to request that you manage to stop creating confusion in the minds of Nigerians.
“It is not possible to honour MKO Abiola in one breadth and admire his tormentor in another breadth. Loyalty is all very well but loyalty can become perverse if that loyalty is retained to an individual who if he were alive today would be before the International Court of Crimes against Humanity.
“The one who broke the laws of Nigeria, international laws, pauperised this nation, it is confusing if professional loyalty is carried so far as to be accorded such an individual.
“We had a private conversation some time ago and l remember one of the things which l mentioned to you. l said you are fighting corruption, how come that a notorious dictator, corrupt ruler, is honoured by one of the most important avenues in the capital of Abuja, whereas, individuals like the martyrs of the struggle, philanthropists have not been honoured?
“The answer you gave to me was not too satisfactory, but I let it pass.
“Today, perhaps is also an opportunity to inaugurate our Hall of Shame so that as we have our Hall of Heroes on the one hand, we can also have our Hall of Shame, as a lesson to future generation.
“But your apology has been most touching. On behalf of the Nigerian people, l accept it. I accept and l am sure that most Nigerians will agree with me.”
SOURCE – PUNCH NEWS