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Soyinka: Nigeria Has Earned Trump’s Shithole Term, Military Brutality Forced Me To Relocate Abroad
Wole Soyinka Laments, Says Humiliation Of Nigerians By The Military Forced Him To Relocate Abroad
Professor Soyinka has described Nigeria as sick and empty, deserving of the term “shithole” as described by United States President, Donald Trump.
The Nobel Laureate said this while speaking at the Ripples Nigerian Dialogue titled “Rebuilding trust in a Divided Nigeria,” held at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“We have become laughing stocks in the eyes of the public.
“We have earned the term of shithole. Nigeria is sick and empty. Some retrogressive forces won’t just stop. Everything Nigeria touches rusts.”
He condemned the humiliation of Nigerians by military personnel, stating that the humiliation of Nigerians led him to relocating abroad.
“The treatment of Nigerians by the military led me to relocating to a saner clime. I remember invading Obasanjo’s residence in Lagos and challenging him concerning the way Nigerians were being treated. It is a disgrace to us, as a nation. We have been left behind in nearly every field.
“There are lessons to be learnt from the diaspora. We need to peep across the Atlantic to see how other countries have been faring,” Soyinka said.
Judith Mbano
March 15, 2018 at 4:15 PM
You said the gospel truth my prof. That is why most of us here in the states don’t want to come home.
iron bar
March 15, 2018 at 4:15 PM
Prof,its clear of human abuses by men in uniform.buhari u fully supported abused such rights during his military admin in the 80s and still condoning such kilings from herdsmen and military personnel.u now praise the same oyinbos u criticize that u wiill tear up their perm resident card if trump gets elected.double speaking or rather eating your words is not good.
Proud american
March 15, 2018 at 4:18 PM
I just came across the most honest Nigerian.
It is a pity we have lost Nigeria. who will get her back from dis ugly fulani ruler
AK
March 15, 2018 at 4:39 PM
It is a complete heartbreak to see how we Nigerians by selected few destroyed every good things the nation could have been. The same old folks running the affairs are still struggling for powers. How do we expect CHANGE?
No real youth empowerment
No real mentorship
No true leadership
It is all politics of self individualism.
J. B. Hunter
March 15, 2018 at 5:19 PM
I AM CURRENTLY Planning to vacate Nigeria myself. But my reason is simply the licenced killer herdsmen on rampage with no disaproval or any strong confrontation from the FG.
I will not wait untill I become a victim. I have to act fast when I still have an option. My life is so sacred and must be jealously protected whatsoever. I don‘t about you out there. I must fulfill my days on Earth.
If you are itching to know where I‘m relocating to, its no other place than FINLAND, currently the World most peaceful place to live in.
I take a stroll…
Edu
March 15, 2018 at 10:02 PM
Soyinka the hypocrite.
Mon
March 16, 2018 at 1:06 AM
Well said Prof., but until people like you will be bold enough to say and work towards disintegration of Nigeria,nothing will change, i can personally say you have seen it all as far as Nigeria is concerned and know very well that the foundation was a fraudulent one,never designed to work for good.
Danti
March 16, 2018 at 2:51 AM
Calm down folks, the military did not destroy Nigeria; but democracy. Under military government, nobody would dare care a gun openly( (except armed robbers)no minister or governor would siphon our money to Dubai. Folks, was there any kidnapping for ransome or Terrorist group under military regime? Why do our senators make more money than American’s? I like scholastic statistics, let Baba oni essay(Soyinka) back his comment with genuine statistical data. Our “recombinant democracy “ is almost two decades now, have we been able to attain anything better? The answer to that is hellish NO. Most of the roads in Nigeria today were constructed by several Military administrations, what are the alagbadas doing?
uzoma
March 16, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Danti, your comment is sensible but you should remember that during military regime people were suppressed. No one dare talk or face elimination. Abacha’s sons made the central bank their piggy bank. Under Abacha all the refineries were left to rot while Mohammed (Abacha’s son) hijacked our oil, shipped it abroad to be refined and import back into the country and all the proceeds went into his pocket. A lot of brave people who spoke out lost their lives. The military was the terrorist then. The problems we have now are the house members, ministers, thieving governors, the president and those surrounding him who are only interested in their pockets. Buhari went to Ghana last week and told the Ghanaian president that Nigeria will help Ghana fight corruption. What a joke of the century. The most corrupt country in the world telling one of the least corrupt countries in the world he will help the least corrupt to fight corruption. Our leaders have lost their senses. Very laughable. French type revolution is looming.