Soyinka: #EndSARS one of the most successful movements— it was authentic

Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, says the #EndSARS protest is one of the most successful movements in Nigeria.

Soyinka spoke on Friday at an interactive session, during the launch of his book titled ‘The Putin Files: Excursions Around The Ideology Of Pain’, in Lagos.

In October 2020, protesters belting the #EndSARS mantra, took to streets nationwide to demand an end to police brutality.

The protests led to the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Soyinka said the #EndSARS protest was an expression of the people’s frustrations with the situation in the country.

He narrated how he addressed some of the demonstrators in one of the protests staged in Lagos.

“#EndSARS is one of the most successful movements. It is authentic. It was the expression of people. It was organised. Most importantly, it was based on truth,” he said.

“When I saw the crowd, I came down and addressed them. It reminded me of the anti-Abacha movement. When I would stand in the median and address the crowd.”

‘SOME PEOPLE WANTED INTERIM GOVERNMENT’

Soyinka said some people had schemed to “tilt” the country towards having an interim government, even before the 2023 elections.

He said those who supported the interim government plot were manipulated to do so.

In the build-up to the 2023 elections, the Department of State Services (SSS) said there was a plot to foist an interim government on Nigerians. 

“Some people had schemed to tilt the country towards having an interim government. That tendency had been apparent even before the election,” Soyinka said.

Soyinka, who also alluded to the Peter Obi movement in comparison to the #EndSARS movement, said the fulcrum of the supporters of the former is based on “half-truth”.

“So some of those who thought they were being radical, they were being ‘mumu’ and playing the script of others. They thought they were tough, bold and original,” Soyinka said.

“You just don’t say it’s who shouts the loudest. If you want to come out based on truth, then no problem. I’ll reverse, but you want to call out people based on the unprovable even as some people will counter with their strict monologue.

“I will not stand by it or keep silent. Impossible. Especially as I am more knowledgeable about these things than many people, even though they don’t admit it.

“They can go back to the internet, open their dictionary of abuses and start all over again. I will come back and tell them that you are ‘mumu’. You were not playing your script.”

Soyinka had faulted remarks by Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the LP, about the outcome of the presidential election.

He was, however, criticised by Obi’s supporters known as Obidients.