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Presidency has confronted nobel laureate Wole Shoyinka for allegedly double-dealing, while accusing him of blackmailing the government, as controversy continues to swirl around the arrest of Omoyele Sowore, convener of "Days Of Rage, Revolution Now" protests by the Department of State Services (DSS) Saturday.
The federal government's latest remarks follow reservations expressed by high-profile Nigeria about the DSS' action.
Speaking through Garba Shehu, his spokesman on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari explained that the same Soyinka that criticised the government for not taking actions against lawlessness, turned around to attack it when it took actions.
“You mentioned the name of Prof Wole Soyinka. Some of these critics of government are people whom we have great respect and admiration for. When things are going wrong with the law and order in the country, they say the police are not doing their work. They raise their voices, asking that ‘the culprits to be booked and expeditiously punished in the most severe manner.’
“The police under a new leadership is now rising to the occasion, saying ‘we cannot take any more atrocities against the law in our country and they are saying don’t do anything.
“They are calling out President Buhari and comparing him to autocratic leaders. This is an unpardonable blackmail that cannot stop the police and other law enforcement agencies from doing their work,” the Presidency responded.
It added that the administration respected the right of Nigerians to carry out peaceful protests, but not a call to “violence.”
The Presidency added, “A Nigerian is by right empowered to call for a change of government using constitutional means; to protest peacefully against government policies and decisions. But to call for the violent overthrow of a democratically-elected government and President is worse, and is not acceptable under any law in Nigeria. Violence will ever be accepted again as a way to change governments in this country. Those days are gone.
“Nigeria has a well-crafted constitution and elaborate laws governing elections that guide an orderly succession in government. We have a judicial system that actively serves as a watchdog of the people’s rights.
“Yet, we are daily witnesses to obscene display of delight in the killing of our soldiers and policemen, an open contempt for the country’s laws and its people, accompanied by loud cheers from the so-called New Media. Is this the way to grow a country?”
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