Soyinka on insecurity: No evidence Buhari understands gravity of the situation

Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says he doesn’t see any proof that President Muhammadu Buhari understands how much needs to be done in terms of improving security. 

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, the Nobel laureate said he doesn’t think that Buhari is in charge as the nation’s commander-in-chief.

Soyinka, who answered questions regarding the alleged invasion of his home by herdsmen, criticised the government’s response to reported attacks by herders and bandits across the country.

“I have said this before and I wish to repeat this. Buhari does not appreciate the situation; he doesn’t understand. I see no evidence that he understands how grave the situation is. I have said it again and again, I don’t believe that he is in charge, because it is not possible in my view for a head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, to say he is presiding over a nation and things get to this level,” he said.

“Something is critically wrong within the leadership of this nation, and that is where we civilians must come in. You must pick up the slack for our own situation, our own salvation, and this is one of the things we are engaged in, and that is why I resent this becoming individualised. Wole Soyinka is just another individual, just like another farmer, another student, and I want the people to understand this.

“What happened to me, with this incident, is just typical of what is happening to millions of people all over the country and we cannot just sit still and say we are relying on central help, when obviously, it’s not coming.”

TheCable had earlier reported that Olaokun, son of the Nobel laureate, had debunked reports that his father’s house in Kemta area of Abeokuta, Ogun state, was attacked by suspected herdsmen, after a voice in a viral video claimed that some herders attacked Soyinka’s house and threatened to kill him.

The Ogun police command also refuted the alleged attack, saying it was a case of cows straying into Soyinka’s property.

But Soyinka, who said he was not attacked, confirmed the invasion of his home, adding that he ordered the arrest of the cattle after the herders fled.

“When people talk about the invasion of home, they are not talking about just the physical building; they are talking about home as home which includes the grounds. No cattle people attacked me; that is a fact. I am here physically, and I didn’t suffer any injury; it never happened. But my home was invaded by cattle,” he said.

“Why should the police go to such lengths as to suggest that I have nothing better to do than to go accosting cattle on the road.  What is my business with cattle on the road? We drove them out of my property together with my groundsmen. Once they were out of my property, that is when I arrested the cows.”

He explained that he later sent for the police to the take over the matter, describing it as a very “simple, ordinary, common-sensical proceeding”.

“Why should the police find it necessary to suggest that these people, these cattle and the herdsmen, were never on my property? I mean, what kind of nonsense? It’s a distraction from more serious issues,” he added.

“I hate to be personally at the centre of issues like this. I’m more concerned with what’s happening to students in Ondo, who are being waylaid by herdsmen, being kidnapped. I’m more concerned about my people in Ogun state, who are being butchered, even while the governor is setting up a commission of enquiry. So, please, I wish to beg the police — don’t make a big issue out of this; don’t lie, then I don’t need to come here and address anyone.”