Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday denied reports that he represented an international intervention group when he met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on August 10.
He also called on the Federal Government “to respond positively to the outrage of the militants of Niger Delta,” Punch reports.
While stating that he was contacted personally to help in mediating in the matter, the revered playwright said he spoke in his capacity as Wole Soyinka and not on behalf of a non-existing ‘international intervention group.’
The renowned social critic had promised to later address the press when State House correspondents ambushed him after his visit to the President, and he’s yet to disclose what actually transpired at the meeting.
“It is bad enough to distort statements and issues. My demand of the media is accuracy. I cannot spend my time correcting falsehood. I am not part of any international intervention group. What kind of intervention? How can a non-existing group contact the President? I know of no international intervention group in existence. There can be no extrapolation, no second guessing,” he said.
Soyinka appealed to President Buhari to respond positively to the rage of the militants in the Niger Delta region, stating that the government was not giving the matter the seriousness it deserves.
“I will appeal to the government to respond positively to the outrage of the militants in the Niger Delta region. They feel that government is seriously not responding to them.”
He described terrorism as religious lunacy and intoxication, citing the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, and called for strong measures to be taken in checking their excesses.
0 comments:
Post a Comment