Chidozie Hanson, with additional reports
Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has finally thrown his weight behind the angry crowd calling for restructuring the Nigeria, saying that, “ the unity of Nigeria as a nation is an issue that must be debated in order to address lingering echoes of marginalization.”
Soyinka with a tinge of enlightenment told those opposed to restructuring the country that the claim that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable is a false statement, and that “the right of the people to determine their future is what is non-negotiable.”
The Nobel laureate’s comments came when he joined Governor Seriake Dickson to commission a new high school in Kaiama, Bayelsa State.
The Ijaw National Academy, which has been running for four months, accommodates up to 1,000 students at the junior and senior secondary levels.
After a brief exchange with the students about his exploits as a renowned writer, Mr. Soyinka took a frontal aim at those who maintain that Nigeria must remain as currently constituted and her unity cannot be negotiated.
“Don’t tell me that Nigeria, as it is, is non-negotiable,” Mr. Soyinka said. “To me, that’s a fallacy.”
Some politicians and top government officials have recently asserted that Nigeria’s structure is not defective contrary to what advocates of restructuring hold.
Two weeks ago, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo repeated the administration’s position on Nigeria as an entity.
“Our unity is not negotiable. We should make sure that we remain united in order to enjoy the resources God has blessed Nigeria with. So many nations envy what we have as a nation,” Mr. Osinbajo said while receiving Muslim leaders in the State House June 25.
But Mr. Soyinka further disagreed with Mr. Osinbajo and other proponents of the status quo.