Hardship: Calls for Soyinka, Falana to lead protests driven by ignorance – NHRC

A coalition, under the aegis of the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC), has denounced the call being made by younger people on Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana to lead mass protests against the situation in Nigeria, saying that the youth in question was driven by complete lack of any sense of history.

NHRC, a coalition of several civil society and community-based organisations across Nigeria, while condemning the call in a statement signed by its officials, Taiwo Adeleke and Digifa Werenipre, copy of which was made available to newsmen, expressed concern about several mock video clips of some young elements persistently accusing the two human right activists of being silent in the face of the country’s worsening situation.

The coalition said that the actions embarked upon by the affected youths constituted a drawback to the rich heritage of democratic struggle both Soyinka and Falana represented in the history of Nigeria, sadly noting that such critics were ignorant and motivated by a combination of ignorance, lack of education plus some flavour of ethnic bigotry.

“We wish to remind these people, mostly young people, that their actions constitute a drawback to the rich heritage of democratic struggle the two figures represent in the history of Nigeria.

“The problem with most young people is either they don’t read, lack any sense of history or are ridiculously lacking in knowledge,” the coalition said.

The coalition recalled that both Soyinka and Falana began to fight for justice through rallies, legal advocacy and street protests in their early 20s, urging the young critics to emulate them by following the examples of sacrifices and personal suffering they had endured in the struggle to free Nigeria from the fetters or iron.

NHRC said it was untrue that Soyinka and Falana were quiet after President Bola Ahmed Tibubu emerged in 2023, maintaining that the critics were just too blind to admit the positive roles being played by the two icons.

“Some of them believe the word activism makes sense only when speaking in support of obidients, indicating their narrow mindset about what it means to change a country for the better.

“Soyinka began the struggle at 21 while Falana started even earlier. Both have put in between 45 to 65 years of their lifetime in the ceaseless and tireless struggle for a better Nigeria at the risk of their lives.

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“These young, ignorant, misguided critics who spend most of their time in either parties, beer parlours or on social media should stop expecting a 90-year-old man to set the agenda for the generation of young people in their 20s who have better equipment and advanced technology to fight for justice but have rather converted the medium to pouring venom on leaders that have made genuine sacrifices in the most difficult period of Nigerian history,” it said.

“Soyinka took part in street demonstrations even in his 90s. It is time for him to rest. Falana has continued to fight several battles for Nigerians of all ethnicities and fought for justice for armed and defenceless peoples alike.

“His son led the #ENDSARs struggle while his father provided legal services for hundreds of detained #ENDSARs protesters. Falana has several cases against the current Government of President Bola Tinubu while he also took part in a series of protests up to 2024. It is naive and unjust even to the point of irresponsibility to seek to stretch the two men beyond physical and moral limits,” it added.

Speaking further, NHRC argued that the same youths were timid and cowardly critics who were never bold enough to march on the streets but were swift to condemn older people who had risked their lives countless times in the struggle for a greater country.

It noted that the office of Mr Falana, daily, is overwhelmed by meritorious and pro bono services to thousands of oppressed peoples and communities across the country, including many he had saved from death after they had been erroneously sentenced to death.

“We are seeing a generation of lousy, lazy and completely ignorant youths whose basic agenda is to destroy Nigerian heroes thereby serving the interests of the government and the ruling class who oppress Nigerians.

“When Soyinka and Falana were younger, they did not look up to the older generation to liberate them. They rather discovered the mission of their generation and fulfilled it. Instead of taking up the profession of attacking the older generation, Soyinka and Falana rather built on and improved on the legacy of the heroes of their time and surpassed their records.

“We challenge those young critics to provide alternatives. We challenge you to lead the battle for the freedom of your generation. We challenge you to take the bull by the horns and provide alternative leadership for change instead of taking up the professional duty of running down those that have established milestones in the struggle for a better Nigeria,” the coalition demanded.

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