Prof. Wole Soyinka , the Nobel Laureate ,
says he now goes days without reading
the newspapers to avoid the depression
that comes from reading bad reports of
insecurity and other anomalies in the
country .
Soyinka added that he did not believe
Nigerian unity is attainable under the
current regime of President
Muhammadu Buhari due to its systemic
failure.
Soyinka said this in Abuja on Saturday
at the book reading and signing of two
of his books titled ‘ Trumpism in
Academe’ and ‘ Chronicles of the
Happiest People on Earth ’ .
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha of
Imo State had asked Soyinka if he
could write a Nigerian story that would
evoke patriotism and inspire unity
among the various tribes in the country .
Responding, the playwright said no
narrative would unite the people of
Nigeria without restitution and justice.
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He explained that persons in Internally
Displaced Persons ’ camps , who had
lost relatives and loved ones due to
violence , would not embrace any story
of unity unless they got justice.
The Nobel laureate said Nigeria had
lost a key opportunity to unite , adding
that he didn ’ t believe the regime of
Buhari could unite Nigeria because it
suffered from systemic failure.
Soyinka added , “ We had a critical
moment and we lost that moment . The
moment when this country could have
come together ; and the sense of
oneness , belonging . That vision of
oneness . We lost that moment .
There has been more than one moment
and we lost the moment . Will another
one come? I don ’ t know . Right now I
don ’ t see it under this government
quite frankly .
“ There is a failure, a systemic failure in
present governance and I don ’ t know
who can put it together . These days , I
try to go some days without reading the
newspapers . It is so depressing . ”
Soyinka said he personally believed that
Nigeria should not break up but should
remain one entity .
He, however , argued that it was wrong
of the government to continue to say
the country ’ s unity was non - negotiable .