Deborah Akinyosoye
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has issued a scathing condemnation of the recent forced evictions in Lagos’s Ilaje and Otumara communities, asserting unequivocally that any development achieved at the cost of human dignity is an affront to democratic ideals.
His remarks, delivered during a “June 12: Romancing the Embers” fireside chat in Lagos, cast a harsh spotlight on the “brutal evacuation” that has left countless families displaced and desperate.
Prof. Soyinka drew a stark parallel between the current demolitions and the notorious Maroko evictions of the past, emphasising that promises of resettlement have remained unfulfilled.
“Promises were made, and the way they were impacted, the way they were rendered homeless, it’s not the kind of recognition that even the lowest citizens in Ilaje deserve,” he stated.
Their plight, he argued, represents a stark contradiction to the principles of justice and equity that should underpin national progress.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Soyinka revealed he has forwarded the affected communities’ petitions to Nigeria’s newly appointed Ombudsman. He declared the case a critical “litmus test” for the institution’s credibility and its capacity to deliver justice for ordinary citizens.
“This is a prime case and we’ll wait and see if, by the time we celebrate June 12 next year, we can boast several restorative actions,” he said.
Shifting his focus to the enduring legacy of June 12, Soyinka also reflected on this year’s National Honours, which he described as a “thematic honours list” seemingly aligned with the spirit of the historic pro-democracy struggle.
He found merit in this new approach, noting, “For the first time perhaps in this country, we have what I call a thematic honours list, I find nothing wrong with that, each time we look at the list, we can at least identify the canopy under which it was compiled creative, political, scientific, or otherwise.”
However, Soyinka warned against the insidious creeping of historical revisionism and the trivialisation of the June 12 movement by political opportunists who played no authentic part in its sacrifices.
“June 12 did not begin on June 12, and it did not terminate on June 12. If you didn’t take part in June 12, then leave it alone. Nobody forced you. But don’t invoke it for political gain or to settle score,” he said.
He recounted the diverse tapestry of individuals who contributed to the pro-democracy struggle, from “dissident generals and academics to market women,” emphasizing the widespread nature of the movement.
Soyinka expressed satisfaction that some instrumental figures were recognized on the honours list, but cautioned against viewing them as mere celebrities. Instead, he urged Nigerians to see them as “mere representatives of a vast movement” that encompassed all sectors of Nigerian life, military, clerical, academic, and grassroots.
“It’s very difficult to be part of that kind of movement, but those who stood firm should be remembered not for the sake of ego, but to uphold truth, democracy, and national integrity,” Soyinka said, reinforcing the enduring call for vigilance and moral courage in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.