Nigerian playwright and poet, Wole Soyinka has affirmed that according to his findings that the Lagos state Governor, Sanwo-Olu had no hands in ordering the shooting at the Lekki toll gate area.
Soyinka who condemned the massacre by the Nigerian Army said the centre has chosen to act in an authoritarian manner and has inflicted a near incurable wound on the community psyche.
In his words: “It is absolutely essential to let this government know that the Army has now replaced SARS in the demonic album of the protesters.
“My enquiry so far indicates that the Lagos governor did not invite in the Army, did not complain of a ‘breakdown in law and order’. Nevertheless the Centre has chosen to act in an authoritarian manner and has inflicted a near incurable wound on the community psyche.”
However, Soyinka asked State Governors where the Federal Government has deployed the military to quell protests to demand their withdrawals now to avoid further escalation of the crisis.
“At that earlier mention Lagos sector, Lekki, where most of the affirmative action gatherings had taken place, soldiers opened fire on unarmed demonstrators, killing and wounding a yet undetermined number. One such extra-judicial killing has drenched the Nigerian flag in the blood of innocents – and not symbolically.
“The video has, in accustomed parlance, ‘gone viral’. I have spoken by phone to eye-witnesses. One, a noted public figure has shared his first hand testimony on television. The government should cease to insult this nation with petulant denials,” he said.
“To the affected governors all over the nation, there is one immediate step to take: demand the withdrawal of those soldiers. Convoke Town Hall meetings as a matter of urgency. 24-hr Curfews are not the solution. Take over the security of your people with whatever resources you can rummage.
“Substitute community self-policing based on Local Councils, to curb hooligan infiltration and extortionist and destructive opportunism. We commiserate with the bereaved and urge state governments to compensate material losses, wherever,” he added.
Soyinka said to “commence any process of healing at all – dare one assume that this is the ultimate destination of desire? – the Army must apologize, not merely to the nation but to the global community – the facts are indisputable – you, the military, opened fire on unarmed civilians. There has to be structured restitution and assurance that such aberrations will not again be recorded.
“Then both governance and its security arms can commence a meaningful, lamentably overdue dialogue with society. Do not attempt to dictate -Dialogue!”
We’re eagerly waiting for them here in Anambra State, our weapons are well serviced and polished. I flew down days before the escalation of this act of inhumanity by the government and we’re waiting for them to perpetrate, oh my God they won’t believe it. I can’t State our plans and meetings with the Niger Delta militants but let it be known that Anambra State is unbelievably prepared not just to defend her motherland but to end this democratic injustice in NIGERIA! We have sophisticated weapons more durable than those inferior toys Nigeria bought from International ammunition market and guess what, we have both financial and tactical support from International bodies that knows our worth and we’ve agreed to trade some of our natural resources in exchange for their fully committed support! Niger bridge is shut down as we speak and bloody, grieved, angry mobs are waiting eagerly with arms ready to fire!!!