By Lawrence Olaoye
The South-South Peoples Forum has described Professor Wole Soyinka as an anarchist and an agent of destabilization following his recent declaration that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has failed the nation.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its President, Dr. Joe Ambakederemo, and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday alleged that Soyinka’s intention by such declaration was to portray the nation in a bad light.
The Forum argued that it would be oh of place for the Nobel Laureate to base the assessment of the Jonathan’s administration solely on the activities of the terrorists in the country even as it submitted that terrorism is a challenge not peculiar to Nigeria but to the world at large.
The statement read “While responding to Soyinka, we are confronted by the possible misinterpretation of our intention, especially as the nation groans under challenging security moments. For the avoidance of doubt, all well-meaning Nigerians, including those in the Diaspora have expressed worry over recent developments, especially the abduction of the Chibok school girls.
“This is a reflection of the fact that terrorism is a phenomenon all Nigerians must rise up to challenge and defeat. The offer by world powers to join in the search is apt in this regard as it is not debatable that terrorism anywhere in the world affects all.
Therefore, the allusion of the security challenges by the professor to conclude that the government has failed leaves much to be desired. To say the least, Professor Soyinka has debased his intellectual respect he had garnered all these years on the altar of political patronage and influence. Indeed, Soyinka has lost touch with patriotism.”
It continued “For some time, we have watched Soyinka as he continued his unprovoked attack on President Jonathan and his government. We had looked the other way because like other Nigerians his right to expression cannot be taken away from him.
“However, in this case, we have a duty to remind Soyinka that his conclusions are not just biased, they are devious and laced with mischief to pull down the government. They are equally erroneous and miscalculated to lay the foundation for civil unrest in the country.
