Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called for the punishment of all those who were responsible for the demolition of a section of the Artists Village in National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
At a press conference in Lagos, on Tuesday, January 26, 2015, Soyinka, alongside former National President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Odia Ofeimum, among other prominent film and creative arts stakeholders, described the demolition of some sections of the Artists’ Village as “travesty of justice.”
It would be recalled that some sections of the Artists Village within the premises of National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos were demolished on Saturday January 23, 2016, allegedly on the order of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Director General of National Arts Theatre, Yusuf Kabiru.
The minister visited the scene of the demolition and refuted the allegation, saying his orders were for the demolition of shanties and illegal structures within the theatre.
But at the briefing in Lagos, the Nobel Laureate said it was ironical that those who should strengthen democracy were the ones who often deployed “military mentality” in handling civil cases.
“To me, democracy means a humane approach to governance. Relate with other people as human beings and not as rodents, that you can do away with. At the moment I am not apportioning blames. I am addressing what happened on Saturday.
“This I hope will lead to enquiry as to who did what? Who gave the order? Who brought arms? The police, army? Who authorised the police? This time, we don’t want to hear about the usual Oga at the top? We must get down to the nitty, gritty,” Soyinka said.
