“The most generous response that can be given to President Jonathan’s recent statement on the people’s fuel subsidy protest is that he is suffering from a bad conscience.
“The worst - which I fear is closer to the truth - is that he is lamentably alienated from the true pulse of the nation, thanks perhaps to the poor, eager-to-please quality of his analysts."
Prof Soyinka was reacting to the President’s comment in Lagos on Wednesday that the January 2012 fuel subsidy removal protests were sponsored.
He said, “Since I have had the opportunity to contest this perception of the protest with him directly, it is clear what kind of interpretative diet he prefers. The nation needs all the luck it can get.”
Condemning the President’s use of force to quell the protests, Soyinka described the action as a violation of the people’s constitutional rights and dismissed Jonathan’s allegation that the protests were sponsored.
He said, “This should be seen as a grave danger to democracy, and a warning. Both the participants and those who, like myself, were unavoidably absent, that lent both vocal and moral support to the demonstration, have been maligned and insulted by such reductionist reasoning.
“The culture of public protest appears to be an alien territory to Jonathan, which is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that he has not only lived in this nation as a citizen, but served in various political offices.
“He has lived through the terror reign of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, whose ruthless misuse of the military and the secret service did not prevent demonstrations against perceived injustice and truncation of people’s rights.
“Jonathan’s pronouncements truly boggle the mind. What is this obsession with bottled water, comedians and musical artists? Must demonstrators drink water from the gutter? Is protest no longer viable when sympathisers cater to their needs, supply decent water and food rations?"
Prof Soyinka was reacting to the President’s comment in Lagos on Wednesday that the January 2012 fuel subsidy removal protests were sponsored.
He said, “Since I have had the opportunity to contest this perception of the protest with him directly, it is clear what kind of interpretative diet he prefers. The nation needs all the luck it can get.”
Condemning the President’s use of force to quell the protests, Soyinka described the action as a violation of the people’s constitutional rights and dismissed Jonathan’s allegation that the protests were sponsored.
He said, “This should be seen as a grave danger to democracy, and a warning. Both the participants and those who, like myself, were unavoidably absent, that lent both vocal and moral support to the demonstration, have been maligned and insulted by such reductionist reasoning.
“The culture of public protest appears to be an alien territory to Jonathan, which is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that he has not only lived in this nation as a citizen, but served in various political offices.
“He has lived through the terror reign of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, whose ruthless misuse of the military and the secret service did not prevent demonstrations against perceived injustice and truncation of people’s rights.
“Jonathan’s pronouncements truly boggle the mind. What is this obsession with bottled water, comedians and musical artists? Must demonstrators drink water from the gutter? Is protest no longer viable when sympathisers cater to their needs, supply decent water and food rations?"
Jonathan is one of those who doesnt know what the democrats went through to get democracy for Nigeria that's why he talks anyhow.
ReplyDeleteCOMRADE SEGUN
I agree prof. This kind of reasoning has totally distanced the president is to the people. Not luck, but God will help us. Abe
ReplyDeleteThis shows how distanced the president is to the people. Abe
ReplyDeleteGEJ has allowed ppl 2 manipulate him. Benkaka
ReplyDeleteJonathan is behind time. He does not know how to manage people. He talks anyhow, and the masses cannot respect him for doing that. You earn respect, not be talking like a garage boy or motor park tout. Is that what being shoeless did his brains?
ReplyDeleteJonathan is behind time. He does not know how to manage people. He talks anyhow, and the masses cannot respect him for doing that. You earn respect, not be talking like a garage boy or motor park tout. Is that what being shoeless did TO his brains?
ReplyDeletehmmmmmmm am sick and tired about our so call president by his statement that the protest was sponsored is he trying to say nigeria plp are fool to jst accept the price just like that i think GEJ is sick if not let him bring the price of fuel dawn to 50 naira per litter and see maybe he will see any nigerians on the street talkless of protest ....easy
ReplyDeleteI am so worry about my country Nigeria, if Mr President can say that oil price protesters are sponsored, does he think Nigerians are fools? i dont know anyway, and the most worrying things is, Nigerians will still vote for this guys in 2015, and be saying he will change, or God will help him, this guy has no plan for our country at all, and this guy has not even done anything compare to Ordinary Mayor in United state which we called (Local Government Chairman) Please Nigerian think, we need a little changes if not total and drastic changes, lets us try another party, this man has ruined Nigeria, the name has gone so bad, i wish other good country can allow all the Nigerian youth to leave the country for them so that they will be serving and spending their stupid N5000, we are still spending coins here, starting from (one cent)in Nigeria i dont remember seen all this money, and one stupid man is suggestiong changing N10, N20 to coins, its a pity, please lets vote the bastard people out of Nigeria. Pls. 1 love my people
ReplyDeletei wil want 2 believe dat d prof is right.GEJ has lost d rthyms of character,trust,and vision dat endear nigerians 2 giv him their mandate on empathy.he shud rememba Africa china song'Mr. President,lead us well.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm mr president the people's aparty for you has been lost. I for see a very high jump for u in 2015 which u might not be able 2 jump ha ha ha. InocENT.
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