ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Ley Your Dreams Come Alive – With FCMB Loans
Home Features

Wole Soyinka: When a playwight pries into a presidential order

5th April 2020
in Features
0
Wole Soyinka: When a playwight pries into a presidential order
0
SHARES
282
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

‘Politics has friendship, enmity, intrigue and even humour.” 

–Akshaye Khanna

 

Are you a Man 40 yrs and above? Do not miss the Vital Information, it goes off in 2 days! CLICH HERE to READ .

Daniel Kanu

 Remarkable of his nature not to stomach any act of perceived blunder from leaders, particularly those in his fatherland without challenging it, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Monday came hard on President  Muhammadu Buhari as he questioned the legality of the lockdown ordered by the president.

Recall that, Buhari as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, last Sunday in a national broadcast directed the restriction of all movements in Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11:00p.m, Monday, March 30, 2020.

Breaking!!! Earn up to N2 - N3 million monthly GUARANTEED (all paid in US Dollars). No training or refereal required. Do business with top USA companies like Amazon, Tesla, Facebook, IBM, Netflix, Zoom, etc. Learn more .

That decision did not go down well with Soyinka, as he condemned not only the rationality, but also the legitimacy of the order.

For Soyinka, it is necessary to generate deep intellectual discourse on the issue so as to ascertain whether the president is acting within the limits of his constitutional powers and not taking the people for a ride in the present enlightened age.

Premature Ejaculation & "Small Joystick" Resolved in 7Days... Click Here For Details .

Perhaps, part of his fears may be that Buhari being a product of a command order background may develop the temptation of relapsing government into dictatorial tendencies which would result in the abuse of his powers.

In a statement he made available to newsmen on Monday, Soyinka argued that Nigeria was not in a war to necessitate such an order, demanding answers on whether Buhari had such powers to declare a lockdown.

He, therefore, asked the federal lawmakers, among others, to intervene in the situation to avoid or perhaps checkmate undue encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers by the president.

Soyinka who at different times had lashed out at some of the errors of the Buhari administration had expressed surprise that a president who has the reputation of always being on AWOL more than any other before him has now woken up from slumber to dish out anti-people order.

Soyinka did not mince words in his observation. He said: “The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Coronavirus pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis. This is a time for unity of purpose, not nitpicking dissensions.

“So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

“Appropriately focused on measures for the saving of lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers.”

100% Natural Herbs to Finally End Premature Ejaculation, Weak Erection and Small Manhood. >>>Click Here for Details<<< .

The playwright added: “We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

“A president who has been conspicuously on AWOL, the Rip van Winkle of Nigerian history, is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

“What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy – `including even trial-and-error and hiccups – undertaken without let or leave of the centre?”

Expectedly, the presidency has hit back at Soyinka, informing him that he is not a medical scientist or medical specialist as regard issues concerning diseases and lacks the competence to speak on all that is involved in it.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement from the presidency enjoined Nigerians to trust information coming from scientists rather than listening to voices such as that of Soyinka whose “qualifications are in English literature, and his prizes are for writing books and plays for theatres.”

The presidency had said: “In the meantime, we ask the people of Nigeria to trust the words of our doctors and scientists-and not fiction writers at this time of national crisis. Prof Soyinka is, of course, entitled to his opinions, but that is exactly all they are, semantics, not science.”

But Soyinka is not alone in this adventure as other legal minds, social critics and public analysts have also questioned the constitutional validity of the pronouncement.

For instance, human rights activist, Femi Falana, said although the president is empowered to adopt any measures deemed fit to combat the dangerous disease, such measures have to be spelled out in a regulation made according to Section 305 of the Constitution or under the Quarantine Act otherwise, the Presidential Order on the restriction of movement in the affected areas cannot be enforced by the police.

Also, human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa concurred to what Falana said, arguing strongly that Buhari has no right to make such proclamation without recourse to the National Assembly.

But Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) and a Senior Advocate, Prof. Itse Sagay, did not waste time to berate Adegboruwa and those with such view, saying that he was merely trying to show off that he has knowledge of the law when the country is going through a crisis that involves life and death.

“Adegboruwa’s points are totally incorrect because in any law, either in the constitution or at any other level, there are exemptions. Like somebody said, even though the president has emergency powers, he needs to send it to the National Assembly. He doesn’t need to do that,” Sagay counseled.

But the president following much pressure from the public last Monday announced the signing into law the COVID-19 Regulations, which declared the disease an infectious one and, thereby giving him legal backing to adopt measures to combat it.

As the fireworks continue, Nigerians are waiting to see how the 14-day lockdown order would be complied with as they seem to be feeling fed-up, given the hunger and frustration that the majority are presently facing.

Prof Soyinka born in July 1934 into a Yoruba family in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is a playwright, poet, and essayist. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first African to be honoured in that category.

Rapheal

Rapheal

Related Posts

Words of wisdom from the Okoturos: Things to do to prevent divorce in your marriage
Features

Words of wisdom from the Okoturos: Things to do to prevent divorce in your marriage

21st May 2022
Ten ways to survive toxic work environment
Features

Ten ways to survive toxic work environment

21st May 2022
Confusion deepens over death of army couple
Features

Confusion deepens over death of army couple

21st May 2022
Next Post
Men, take care of yourselves

COVID-19, new bonding and lockdown by aggrieved wives

FCT and the change mantra

Coronavampire

Ndidi rated EPL’s best tackler for 2nd season

Ndidi: My style of play different from Kante’s

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlights

Ex-FCT minister Useni forfeits £1.9 million in Jersey

Kano: Another explosion averted as police intercept bomb laden vehicle

Zone 2023 presidential ticket to South, 11 Peter Obi support group urges PDP

Electoral Act Amendment Bill yet to be signed, Presidency sources say

Road to 2023: Drop out of presidential race, continue as governor, group urges Mohammed

Road to 2023: 12 million jobs guaranteed in 2 years if elected, NRM aspirant tells Nigerians

Trending

I'll replicate my achievements in Lagos in the country if elected president - Tinubu
Elections

I’ll replicate my achievements in Lagos in the country if elected president – Tinubu

21st May 2022
0

From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin  Former governor of Lagos State and National leader of the...

Ekiti Assembly: APC reverses, clears 17 disqualified aspirants for primary

Ekiti Assembly: APC reverses, clears 17 disqualified aspirants for primary

21st May 2022
Akwa Ibom PDP House of Assembly primary: Delegates raise alarm over short payment, blacklisting threat in Udom's LGA

Akwa Ibom PDP House of Assembly primary: Delegates raise alarm over short payment, blacklisting threat in Udom’s LGA

21st May 2022
Ex-FCT minister Useni forfeits £1.9 million in Jersey

Ex-FCT minister Useni forfeits £1.9 million in Jersey

21st May 2022
Kano: Another explosion averted as police intercept bomb laden vehicle

Kano: Another explosion averted as police intercept bomb laden vehicle

21st May 2022

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • I’ll replicate my achievements in Lagos in the country if elected president – Tinubu
  • Ekiti Assembly: APC reverses, clears 17 disqualified aspirants for primary
  • Akwa Ibom PDP House of Assembly primary: Delegates raise alarm over short payment, blacklisting threat in Udom’s LGA
  • Ex-FCT minister Useni forfeits £1.9 million in Jersey
  • Kano: Another explosion averted as police intercept bomb laden vehicle
  • Zone 2023 presidential ticket to South, 11 Peter Obi support group urges PDP
  • Electoral Act Amendment Bill yet to be signed, Presidency sources say
  • Road to 2023: Drop out of presidential race, continue as governor, group urges Mohammed
  • Road to 2023: 12 million jobs guaranteed in 2 years if elected, NRM aspirant tells Nigerians
  • Jonathan frowns on Nigeria resolving arbitrations in UK
  • Buhari back in Abuja after 2-day Abu Dhabi visit
  • Road to 2023: Our party not a second option for corrupt politicians – SDP
  • Appeals committee upholds Kaduna APC delegate congresses
  • Road to 2023: Youths hold ‘nationwide capacity rally’ for Yahaya Bello in 23 states
  • Road to 2023: PDP hasn’t disqualified me – Dr Anakwenze
  • NAFOWA celebrates NAF at 58, donates food items to widows
  • Ortom to Fayemi: We must set aside differences to rescue Nigeria
  • Road to 2023: Former media adviser Dangwong declares for Jos South state constituency in APC
  • Catholic church suspends priest for engaging in partisan politics
  • BREAKING! Another building collapse in Lagos, one killed

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Posting....