Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
Insecurity: Nigerians should be mobilised to defend themselves- Soyinka
By Modupe Shodeinde
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said national mobilisation of Nigerians to defend themselves is an ideal approach to address insecurity in the country.
He said a general mobilisation is an approach he is looking forward to.
Soyinka on Saturday, on Arise TV said, “I will prefer a general mobilisation in which people are trained; farmers especially are trained to work with the hoe in one hand and the gun in the other hand, ready to protect their lives, their harvests and the rest of us.
“We are not unique; history is full of those situations… I will like to see a national mobilization. Let’s be practical.”
Speaking on how bad the current situation is, Soyinka urged the government not to shy away from asking for foreign help in combating insecurity in the country.
“Let them get away with the issue of sovereignty. If they have to pay people to come and help us, then call them whatever you want. Please go ahead because we’ve reached that stage of desperation,” Soyinka said.
He said the nation is dealing with “the enthronement of evil” and wondered why northern governors had to resort to negotiating with bandits in their states.
“You don’t appease evil. We are dealing with evil. There is no other word; we are dealing with the proliferation, the enthronement of evil in the society.
“And unfortunately, we have encouraged its manifestation, its proliferation, its entrenchment.”
Soyinka also warned the South West Security Network, Amotekun, not to become another SARS in disguise.
Amotekun has been accused of extrajudicial killings and high handedness; the same complaints against the police that sparked last year’s #ENDSARS protests across the country.
Soyinka emphasised on the importance of ethical training of the security operatives to make them understand their roles and responsibilities.
“I have told them anytime you want us to come and assist, we will come, even if it is just on the ethical session. So that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that
Amotekun does not become another SARS. It’s very important. We must do everything together.”
He further advised Nigerians to take responsibility for their safety, and urged parts of the country that are yet to have their own security outfits to do so.
