End killings, casual butchery – Wole Soyinka tasks Tinubu

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has demanded that President Bola Tinubu take immediate action to halt all forms of killings by state actors in Nigeria, emphasizing that the complicity of ordinary citizens exacerbates the crisis. This call came during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lectures, held in Port Harcourt, where Soyinka dedicated his speech to the victims of Nigeria's extrajudicial killings and systemic failures. He described the nation's greatest failure as not just the murders themselves, but the widespread silence that allows perpetrators to act with impunity. Soyinka delivered his remarks under the theme “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” highlighting the role of mass inaction in enabling further human rights violations. In his speech, he paid tribute to several victims, including 18 residents of Ughelli who were killed by state agencies without cause, a young man shot dead by a police officer in daylight, and Deborah, a youth targeted by her peers, subjected to a brutal attack, and set ablaze. Soyinka condemned the lack of response from the public, stating that the very existence of such crimes reflects a failure of the justice system. He rejected criticism that he incites religious tensions when addressing such issues, asserting that events like the Port Harcourt lectures serve a crucial purpose in reminding Nigerians that the individual remains the most fundamental component of any community. Soyinka urged citizens to monitor the case of the police officer responsible for shooting the young man in the south and to ensure the justice system does not falter once again. Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, emphasized in his keynote address that justice for many Nigerians begins well before reaching a courtroom. He pointed out that justice is determined at the stage when police officers choose whether to believe or disregard complaints based on merit rather than other considerations. Citing flaws within the Nigerian justice and correctional systems, Chidoka revealed that 64 percent of inmates in custodial centers, including over 50,000 Nigerians, are awaiting trial and have yet to be convicted of any crime. Chidoka explained that each of these 50,000 individuals represents a life suspended in uncertainty, leading to job loss, family instability, and health deterioration. He argued that delays caused by the state result in lost freedom for citizens, describing this as a form of violence committed by the state itself. True justice, according to Chidoka, requires consistency in applying rules regardless of a person's identity, ensuring that prosecutions proceed based on evidence and that those in detention remain accessible to their legal representatives. He stressed that justice should not require additional battles after a citizen prevails in court against the government. He stated that justice is also measured by how society treats those it dislikes, arguing that the law should protect everyone, not just friends. Justice must defend the accused, the unpopular, the political opponent, and the minority, since citizenship does not rely on consensus. Where justice is negotiable, citizenship becomes hierarchical, he warned. In his opening remarks, the chairman of the event and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe, drew upon his extensive experience in public service to highlight the importance of accountability for sustainable development. He urged attendees from government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to treat the 28th Wole Soyinka Lectures as more than a ceremonial occasion. Instead, he called for genuine introspection and a renewed commitment to meaningful change. His message underscored the necessity of confronting systemic issues head-on rather than allowing them to persist under the guise of routine proceedings.