BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 09, (THEWILL) – Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday warned against the use of force against the BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, campaigners, saying that the group should be given their space to protest.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had on Wednesday, warned the BBOG campaigners against continuing with their street processions, which he said constituted a security threat to public peace and order of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. He stressed that the police “will not sit on the fence and watch such a scenario unfold.”
But Soyinka, while reacting to the IGP’s comments, noted that it would be dangerous to forget the missing Chibok girls, saying that it could boost their morale and teach pupils in the country the need to stand up for their rights.
A convener of the group, Oby Ezekwesili had also reacted, averring that nobody can threaten the group and that the police boss needs to educate himself properly about democracy.
“Our response is that he (IGP) should ask for the file that recorded our advocacy between 2014 and 2015 when the previous administration used all kinds of tactics similar to this one to try to violate our constitutional liberty.
“Not only did the constitution uphold that right, the court also upheld our rights. He should just read this files, he should be able to find what he needs in order to educate himself properly about democracy and citizens’ right to peaceful assembly,” she said.
Soyinka, who was speaking at a symposium to start the 20th anniversary programme of Halifield Schools, Maryland, Lagos, stated that protests by the group could not be too much as long as the Chibok girls remained Boko Haram captives.
The social commentator, who delivered the keynote address at the event, added that peaceful demonstration was a democratic right which could not constitute threats to national security and public order.
‘‘I saw a report in a national daily that demonstrations on behalf of the Chibok girls pose a threat to national security and I thought, not again. My mind flew back immediately to another governor under whose democratic leadership, parents were tear-gassed for demonstrating peacefully about losing their children in a plane crash in Port Harcourt.
“Democracy is not just about campaigning. It is exercising human rights. It is about helping to build the society. Demonstrations cannot be too much as long as those girls are missing. Demonstrations are an act of solidarity. Wherever they are today, when their mothers demonstrate on their behalf, their morale is raised.
“That is my message to security operatives who get scared of those who are agitating for a cause and fire tear gas at them. They must be treated with utmost respect and must be given their space. It is an act of solidarity for the children. Otherwise, when you stop these demonstrations, you are saying forget about the children,’’ he said.
Soyinka, who also urged the Federal Government and its agencies to speak with one voice, said Nigerians should express solidarity with the missing girls and their families.
“We have important things like reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, among others, to worry about. Yes, those things are important but ultimately, the society is for humanity and when one of us is hurt, we must allow ourselves to protest.
“I hope we don’t get the negative effects when they bring back our girls. And when we talk about democracy to our children, it is to teach them their rights. Therefore, there has to be greater coherence from the government and its agencies.
“We don’t have to know one single individual among the girls. We should demonstrate democratic responsibility. Let us continue to recognise solidarity with these girls and one day, they will come back or we will get to know what has become of them,” he said.
On her part, Ezekwesili, who maintained that the group will not relent in its quest to see the abducted girls free again, stated that their activities are not violent but peaceful and orderly.
According to her, “We are a peaceful movement as everyone knows, so we are not changing anything, no retreat, no surrender.
“Are our girls back? If the government says that we are unreasonable in demanding for our Chibok girls in the way that we have been demanding for them since 2014, they need to show the evidence that counters our stance.”
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