There is a raging social media debate revolving around Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, and his purported silence concerning shortcomings of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The 83-year old Soyinka has been accused of losing his voice and unable to criticize Buhari, who he endorsed in 2015. Soyinka’s supporters have countered mostly along the lines of the fact that the man has been involved in activism for over 50 years, and his critics should find their own voices and take over the baton.
While some claim the Nobel Laureate is being biased, others say he is not under obligation to speak up.
Soyinka critics accuse him of being in favour of Buhari-led government in contradiction to his criticisms during Goodluck Jonathan administration.
@Chxta: “Given where he is coming from it is probably fair for some to criticise Wole Soyinka for not speaking up against this, failed government. However, it is important to point out that the man is 83, and has spent the last six decades fighting governments of various sorts.
@demolaojo: “Wole Soyinka was constantly attacking GEJ directly when he felt he was underperforming, which was right. Not enough saying he’s talked about the economy, condemned herdsmen attack, IPOB etc. Heck, who hasn’t?
Has he directly spoken out against /berated Buhari?
@wekky23: “On the continuous silence of Prof wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare and co ,my conclusion is that they are cowards, that lack the courage and determination to admit their mistakes of misleading many Nigerians astray.
@afrispheric: “Their loud silence is at a minimum, an implicit endorsement of the mess Buhari has made of things. Worse, it may be that something other than patriotism drove those men all along. At the end of the day, it is quite shameful, especially for someone of Wole Soyinka’s level.
Others, however, urged Nigerian youths complaining to fight for their rights instead of waiting for likes of Wole Soyinka , Tunde Bakare to attack the government.
@Ogundamisi: “Ground Zero ‘YOOTS’ will never seize to amaze me. They are waiting on Wole Soyinka to come and help them remove their chains. Enu e le wa yen. Make una dey wait for Kongi. SMH. You can also be a Wole Soyinka, start a radical movement of your own, don’t wait for Wole.
@olaosunD: “See people debating why Wole Soyinka is not criticizing Buhari. Wole Soyinka o. 83 years old. So, we have no problem abdicating the responsibility for monitoring our future to people that are not likely to be in it?
@jolatankoka: “Wole Soyinka severally checked Buhari, Yar’Adua, Obasanjo, Jonathan. If he decides to be quiet now, it’s his choice – that should be respected. If he’s tired – we should applaud him. New Soyinkas should have evolved, but they are busy massaging Tinubu, Saraki, and El-Rufai’s ego.
@Radicalyouthman: “If Nigerian Youths will reject the old brigade of Leaders, it is right that we also reject the old brigade of Activists. Why do we have to wait on Wole Soyinka and Femi Falana to lead protests in 2017? Why can’t we lead our own Change?
