Wole Soyinka Condemns President Tinubu’s Speech, Warns of Potential Revolution

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent broadcast, which failed to address the lethal force used by police and SSS to quell the ongoing #EndHunger demonstrations. The protests, which began on August 1 and are set to last ten days, have seen a brutal response from security agencies.

Soyinka, a longtime ally of Tinubu, expressed his dismay at the president's omission of the issue in his speech. He interpreted this as an implicit endorsement of the security forces’ actions, which could embolden them to continue their oppressive tactics. In a statement issued on Sunday, Soyinka said: "My primary concern, quite predictably, is the continuing deterioration of the state’s seizure of protest management, an area in which the presidential address fell conspicuously short. Such short-changing of civic deserving, regrettably, goes to arm the security forces in the exercise of impunity and condemns the nation to a seemingly unbreakable cycle of resentment and reprisals.”

Nobel Laureate particularly condemned the use of live ammunition against protesters, noting that peaceful protests should not be met with such extreme measures. He highlighted that hunger protests are a global phenomenon and should be treated as a serious SOS signal rather than with violence. Reflecting on similar protests in France during 2022 and 2023, Soyinka stated: “Live bullets as state response to civic protest—that becomes the core issue. Even tear gas remains questionable in most circumstances, certainly an abuse in situations of clearly peaceful protest. Hunger marches constitute a universal SOS, not peculiar to the Nigerian nation.”

The severity of the situation was underscored by an incident on Saturday when police and SSS operatives fired live rounds at journalists near the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The rear windshield of a vehicle carrying reporters from The Punch and Cable was shattered by bullets, illustrating the dangerous environment faced by both protesters and media personnel.

Soyinka urged the nation to permanently abandon the use of lethal force by security agencies, warning that such actions only serve to escalate tensions and could potentially lead to revolution. He remarked: "The serving of bullets where bread is pleaded is ominous retrogression, and we know what that eventually proves—a prelude to far more desperate upheavals, not excluding revolutions.”

Soyinka’s critique highlights the broader implications of the government's response to the protests. The use of force against civilians demanding basic necessities like food and economic stability not only threatens human rights but also risks inciting greater unrest and instability.

The ongoing #EndHunger protests reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration’s handling of the economy and social welfare. As the demonstrations continue, the government’s approach to managing civil unrest will be critical in determining the country's path forward.

Wole Soyinka's condemnation of President Tinubu’s speech and the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters underscores the urgent need for a humane and constructive approach to addressing the nation’s challenges. His warnings serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of state-sponsored violence and the importance of upholding democratic values and human rights