Wole Soyinka, foremost playwright, says he will not participate in the celebrations of June 12 as Democracy Day.

In honour of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari had signed into law, the bill to make June 12 replace May 29 as Democracy Day.

In an essay made available to TheCable on Tuesday, Soyinka condemned the conduct of the 2019 elections.

“This year’s recall of an uplifting day in the year 1993 comes up against a background of its most shameful disavowal: the 2019 elections – still under judicial contestation – an event that would be more accurately described as an exercise in body count rather than ballot count,” he said.

“The elections however merely reflected a pattern of savagery and abandonment of human sensibilities that have eaten away the sheerest sense of community in the nation. I have already described it as the final descent into the abyss of human degradation. The recent call – no matter how suspect the motivation –for what amounts to a national discourse on future directions was nothing new.

“A day dedicated to democracy – as a compelling morality of social existence – is merely frivolous unless directed at the recognition of the telling, prevailing features of the last exercise, which throw in question the free, hopefully educated exertion of human choice.”

The Nobel laureate also made it known that his non participation in this year’s Democracy Day was by choice.

“I shall not participate in this year’s June 12 celebrations – from choice. It is part of my training exercises for withdrawing from public space, a resolution that I first half seriously injected into encounters over five years ago. That absence applies, not to the official celebration alone – of which I have never been a part anyway – but to the annual ritual by civic groups, a ritual of both tribute and defiance that has been unflaggingly observed till now,” he said.

Soyinka said Democracy Day deserves truthful confrontation with the socio-political conditions and it should not be celebrated with groundless recriminations.


Source:
https://www.thecable.ng/soyinka-i-wont-participate-in-june-12-celebrations/amp

Celebrating Democracy, despite the sham of February Presidential elections, that made a mockery of the same democracy.

How about the total disregard for the rule of law, the Judiciary, press, citizenry and the constitution of the land?

Does the coupist even know the meaning of the word Democracy?

Good morning Professor Soyinka.

the prof nailed the matter!

the last election was characterised by widespread irregularities but that is almost the norm because conducting a perfect election is a near impossible task. i believe there is always room for improvement

prof's diction "issagoal"

it is not by force but by choice

“This year’s recall of an uplifting day in the year 1993 comes up against a background of its most shameful disavowal: the 2019 elections still under judicial contestation.An event that would be more accurately described as an exercise in body count rather than ballot count,” he said.

“The elections however merely reflected a pattern of savagery & abandonment of human sensibilities that have eaten away the sheerest sense of community in the nation. I have already described it as the final descent into the abyss of human degradation.

Guess we were wailers? Welcome to reality Prof.

baliyubla:
Celebrating Democracy, despite the sham of February Presidential elections, that made a mockery of the same democracy.

How about the total disregard for the rule of law, the Judiciary, press, citizenry and the constitution of the land? Does the coupist even know meaning of the word Democracy? Good morning Professor Soyinka.

When supposed sophisticated educated illiterates of Soyinka kind chose to support a well known bigot cum tyrannt one wonder what would become of the poor unlearned fellas.What a paradox with Nigeria

One of the very few with brains...

Yorubas should be mourning this day and not to celebrate. What's there in celebrating betrayals you caused your own son.

QueenSekxy:
Yorubas should be mourning this day and not to celebrate. What's there in celebrating betrayals you caused your own son.

Well said sis.Longest time! Welcome back!

Racoon:
Well said sis.Longest time! Welcome back!

Thank you.

Oga Soyinka abeg paze Pront apata all Buhari now has all it takes to bring $1 to #1 no more blame blame blame . Next level....joooorrr

Where is Femi Adeshina, the man who coined the now infamous phrase 'wailing wailers'.

Splashme:
In summary, Prof Soyinka is not attending the celebrations
because, like many Nigerians, he feels the 2019 elections were recklessly
rigged by Buhari and his ruling APC party

Issorite, welcome to the Camp Wailers, prof

The moment that man refused signing the electoral bill into law
was the day I gave up on 2019 elections

WE WON'T GIVE A FCK

APC Zombies will shun this thread.
Dumb, unreasoning animals!

wingmanII:
APC Zombies will shun this thread.
Dumb, unreasoning animals!

I swear
Even the mods (mynd44, lalasticlala and Co) are pretending not to see the thread

Lie lie, he's afraid of Buhari

A man I respect so much

This G MB is a fake fellow.

The exact hypocrisy G IIB used to wipe the victory of MKA ( I mean democracy in Nigeria), is not different to what he G MB is doing now to deny the mandate of Atiku (I mean "pushed-democracy") and kill the hope of millions of Nigeria.



And after some years, another fake ones will rise to recognize Atiku as truly elected President of Feb.2019 gnrl elections.





It is amazing the way even some fresh politicians and followers showcase their ignorance here in NL.

Soyinka, I remember reading his novels during secondary sch days lol

whatever, the truth is whether you celebrate or not today remains democracy day

Better man

Cinderallagirl:

What is that face for young girl?

SPOILT9JAOLOSHO:
Soyinka, I remember reading his novels during secondary sch days lol

Why the lol?? Whats funny about you reading his books during your secondary school days

No reasonable Nigerian is supposed to celebrate it because this nation is not yet democratic.

Democracy under Buhari is mockery to the real sense of it

Who beg you to participate? We go soon catch you, tie you, flog you small then barber that your head gorimakpa, morrow morrow, shine shine, secura for you rub am small baby oil. Release you back to the wild.

why are the intelligent ones against buhari, but the dumb ones always run after him