Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of committing “stupid” acts by failing to secure lives in the country.
The respected author made this known on Thursday at the official launch of his Interventions VIII series titled: “Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? (Who keeps watch over the watchmen?), Gani’s Unfinished Business,” at Freedom Park, Lagos.
He said the administration has failed to “exert authority when necessary which led to the killings”.
Soyinka added that there were serious acts of mis-governance under the Buhari administration, which he said has also begun to use “languages of self-excusing” like its predecessor.
He said, “There are acts of mis-governance under this administration. There are unforced errors and acts that are considered being stupid; failure to secure lives; languages of self-excusing, which were condemned in the past but resurfacing all over the place.”
Soyinka added that, “There is cheapening of lives. The value of lives in the last year or so on is on a level we haven’t witnessed in the country for long time.”
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He charged the government to do all within its power between now and the 2019 general election to introduce reforms that will help secure the lives of Nigerians.
The octogenerian implored Nigerians to ensure that “we all embark on ground clearing for new generation of leaders and to make sure that in the process, we don’t bring back what we are just getting out from. That is one of the stupid acts that we could be held responsible by the coming generation.”
In the same token, Soyinka lambasted former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing the ex-president as a “hypocrite” and “pretender”.
Soyinka said, “Obasanjo isn’t a stupid man but reads the wind and move in. He is busy hijacking existing movements. And that is why I have warned many that have movement and that includes him, to be careful because he could hijack them.
“He frustrated June 12 and often put himself forward on any issue. He is welcome to reform and as his slogan maybe, the redemption process has started.”
Soyinka further accused Obasanjo of causing the power sector crises in Nigeria by sabotaging the “genuine efforts” of late Chief Bola Ige to revamp the system.
He described as “unforgivable” Obasanjo’s statement that the late Ige did not know his left from his right.
Soyinka said, “I found that statement unforgivable. He owes him for maligning him and sabotaging his genuine and structured efforts to transform the power sector of the country.
“I was here when Ige moved his office to Lagos to solve the power problem of Nigeria. He deliberately sabotaged the efforts of the late minister. Before Ige took office, he summoned a group of experts and mapped out strategy to transform the power sector.
“But he was sabotaged from the inside because he begged me to persuade Obasanjo to remove Sulaiman Bello from office.
“This was the man he believed was used to sabotage his efforts and the consequence we are still suffering today. Obasanjo protected the saboteurs of the power sector and that is why I challenged him to engage me publicly.”