Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has knocked the Federal Government for attacking former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the latter’s comments about Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen crisis.
Obasanjo had said on Saturday in Delta State that Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen crisis had degenerated into an agenda to ‘Fulanise’ West Africa and ‘Islamise’ Africa.
His comments appeared displeasing to the Federal Government which called it ‘divisive’ in a statement on Tuesday.
However, Soyinka, at United Bank for Africa (UBA) symposium tagged ‘Africa’s history redefined: Our past, a path to the future’, said the Federal Government should not ignore Obasanjo’s message whether it finds it unpleasant or not.
“Everybody knows that my relationship with Obasanjo is not too cordial but at the same time, we should be very careful not to be dismissive. If there is a substance, the language must be put aside for a moment,” Soyinka said.
“I heard the Minister of Information, and I had the feeling that they are leaving aside the substance and worrying too much about the language. Obasanjo was calling for a meeting of stakeholders on a very serious aspect of social menace this country is undergoing.
“This country is undergoing a horrendous descent into the abyss. The perfect picture of Africa is what we must continue to uphold in view as leaders have used the word ‘unity’ to destroy our people.
“The issue of Boko Haram is currently being discussed in the House of Parliament in England in relation to Africa’s well-being.’’
