
Buhari and Soyinka
The presidency has replied Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka over his comment that the declaration of total lockdown in Lagos and Ogun by President Muhammadu Buhari was illegal.
The presidency, in a statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu lambasted Soyinka over his comment.
“Yesterday, the esteemed Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka made comments on the legal status and description of 14-day lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Professor Soyinka is not a medical professor. His qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres. He is of course entitled to his opinions – but that is exactly all they are: semantics, not science. They cannot – and should not – therefore be judged as professional expertise in this matter in any shape or form.
“Across the world – from parts of the United States and China, to countries including the United Kingdom and France, government – mandated lockdowns are in place to slow and defeat the spread of coronavirus. All have been declared, and all have been made necessary, based on medical and scientific evidence. The guidance of the Nigerian Government’s medical specialists is to advise the same.
“Professor Soyinka has also declared, doubtless based on his specialism as a playwright, that: “We are not in a war emergency,” Shehu said.
According to Shuhu, eminent scientists say otherwise: “Dr Richard Hatchett, Head of the International Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (and former Director of the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) has said, ‘War is an appropriate analogy’.
“Professor Anthony Fauci, Director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force has said of the battle against the pandemic: ‘It’s almost like the fog of war’.
“As for the legality of the lock down, the Government of Nigeria’s primary duty in law and action is the defence of the people of Nigeria. We face a global pandemic. Nigeria is now affected. The scientific and medical guidance the world over is clear: the way to defeat the virus is to halt its spread through limitation of movement of people.
“Perhaps Wole Soyinka may write a play on the coronavirus pandemic, after this emergency is over. In the meantime, we ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists – and not fiction writers – at this time of national crisis.”
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14 Comments
Garba Shehu you are wrong please go back and read Prof Wole Soyinka’s comment again. For you to have limited his knowledge to writing English literature I think you need to research his background. Constitutional question is different from your attack. Is better for you to explain why the President decided to lock down the states in question. You have to learn how to be diplomatic in your communication.
Stonerbaba, you have totally misunderstood the north. Who told you northerners are illiterate? Perhaps you have been brainwashed by your forefathers to look down at a people especially because of ethnic or religious backgrounds. Let me qoute you: “F.G would have preferred all Nigerians to be as Dumb as those illiterate up in the North, who doesn’t know nor care to differentiate between right and wrong!
Unfortunately, southerners are educated making us think differently even against ourselves on every issue.”
First, correct your english because there is no concord between “those and doesn’t” then in the same sentence, “those illiterate…” You need to add ‘s’ to make it plural. Man, there is nothing you have in the south which we don’t have in the north. From intellectuals to engineers, from medical doctors to lawyers, we have everything in all walks of life.
Seriously sometimes you begin to wonder what the use of education is on so many Nigerians who can read and write!
Did you read Prof. Soyinka’s comment?
The Prof. was asking those learned that they should help (Laymen) Nigerians on the Legality or otherwise of PMB’s order. Is that too much for a mere citizen who is even unknown to ask, not to talk of a world renowned Prof.
He was asking this to avoid another president to quote this as a precedence for them to commit same Illegality some other time in future
Can a president Order such directive without recourse to the constitution, and especially without a law being passed by the National Assembly to back the President up?
Some people are saying that how long do we have to wait for National Assembly to pass the law, I tell them that, how long did it take the F.G. to make up their mind to lock those states down?
How long does it take the HOR to pass the bill for them to get their New SUVs even when this CORONAVIRUS issue is already in the front burner?
Anyone finding fault is Prof. Soyinka’s question is as Dumb as our Misleading and Erroneous Rulers.
So you want more people to get infected before lockdown
@ Alex….you have erroneously misunderstood the whole point in this matter.
Did you see the Prof. ask for clearance over Gov. Sanwo-olu’s Slowdown/Lockdown directive? NO.
The govs. are constitutionally empowered to give that order, with the backing of the state assembly. And don’t forget Lagos state house of assembly have enacted a law to back the governor on that directive, making it a law.
It is not that anyone wish that we Nigerians should all be infected with covid-19, all he was asking for is clarification from learned legal practitioners about the Pres. order on independent states.
So, you wouldn’t mind in future where a President will be angered by a region in the country and he (the President) then ordered the Lockdown of such region. And when he is challenged then by those who felt it is not right, then he will now refer to this particular one by PMB as a Precedence for his own action with whatever excuse he might have to back his illegality up?
Soyinka’s question is not an affront on the President at all, it is just asking for clarification.
But the Presidency in Nigeria only listen to Reply, they necpver address any point of raised by anyone who have a contrary opinion to them.
Seriously, F.G would have preferred all Nigerians to be as Dumb as those illiterate up in the North, who doesn’t know nor care to differentiate between right and wrong!
Unfortunately, southerners are educated making us think differently even against ourselves on every issue.
It seems like must of us still think that we are still under democratic rule
please wake-up forget it even Abacha’s dictatorship was even much more tolerance than this
Hahahaha Haba Garba Shehu, you did not even pity the old man. He definitely hasn’t heard, seen or read the Quarantine Act.He should get one as Osinbajo had said, and according to the VP, it’s a single page document.
A good message for the busy Soyinka
Soyinka is right…declaring lockdown must be an act of law…In the countries mentioned by this idi*t, they enact law or seek parliament’s approval to declare lockdown…that is what Soyinka is a saying. In democracy you dont just wake up and declared restrictions on people’s movement. I live in the UK and the lockdown in the UK is an act of law the same in Spain, Italy, etc. By the way, cant the presidency respond to people without insulting them? What kind of animals live in aso rock?
You live in UK with partial lockdown until covid-19 enter your doorstep there will not be fully lockdown. Italy and Spain have fully lockdown, people are dyeing like chicken. What do you know about Nigeria. Nigeria Government is on the right direction. Soyinka should go and sleep because he has nothing to offer because he is a Noisemaker.
It is very disappointing that s man in the calibre of the highly esteemed Prof Soyinka will join the bandwagon of those wishing the people bad to make noise when it is least expected. He should be bigger than this pettiness. Shame.
Soyinka has always exaggerated himself. He is. Mere story teller(imagined). He talks nonsense most of times and as if late he is diminishing himself daily by making comments in area he knows nothing at all. Am sure he is alone in these areas and nobody care about his noise of late. I told him last time that his time is gone. He should listen and maybe learn
Chukwubue,
If we are really practicing Federalism, the federal government cannot shutdown or restrict movement of people in any state. Yes the Federal can close national borders, but don’t have the right to close state borders. Even in state of emergency, the federal should work with the states.
As for insulting the highly respected Prof. you should get your brain examined.
Suddenly…you are now pro Buhari…lol!
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