Soyinka Condemns Negotiations With Bandits.

By Oluchi Ihediuche

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has condemned the decision of some northern governors for negotiating with bandits and criminals saying, “You don’t appease evil.

He made this statement in a Television Program where he says constant negotiation brings about manifestation of evil.

“You don’t appease evil; we are dealing with evil, there is no other word, we are dealing with the proliferation, the enthronement of evil in the society. And unfortunately, we have encouraged its manifestation, its proliferation, its entrenchment.

He added that Nigerian government should be willing to seek external aids if it cannot combat insurgents in the state

“Nigeria has reached the “stage of desperation” and the government should be willing to “pay people to come and help us” in defence against Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements.“So, let them get away with the issue of sovereignty. If they have to pay people to come and help us, then call them whatever you want. Please go ahead because we’ve reached that stage of desperation.

He further emphasized on mass mobilization, where individuals are trained to self defend themselves

“But I will prefer a general mobilisation in which people are trained, farmers especially are trained to work with the hoe in one hand and the gun in the other hand, ready to protect their lives, their harvests and the rest of us.

“We are not unique, history is full of those situations…I will like to see a national mobilisation. Let’s be practical.”