Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no constitutional backing to declare a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

While addressing the country in a televised broadcast on Sunday, Buhari had said that starting from 11:00pm on Monday (today), movement within the three cities was banned in order to give authorities the chance to properly combat the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Lagos and Abuja have the highest of infections for the virus in Nigeria.

The total confirmed cases in the Coronavirus in the country currently stands at 111 with one recorded death

But reacting to the situation on Monday, Soyinka said that there was no legal premise upon, which Buhari was making the new order.

He said, "Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds.

"The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

"So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

"Appropriately focussed on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers. We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

"A President who has been conspicuously AWOL is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

"Who actually instigates these orders anyway? From where do they really emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy - `including even trial-and-error and hiccups - undertaken without let or leave of the centre.

"So far, the anti-COVID19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

"I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future."

http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/30/buhari-has-no-constitutional-backing-lock-down-lagos-ogun-abuja-%E2%80%94soyinka

It's not yet 11pm. Soyinka can still issue a counter-directive lifting the curfew

We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

Prof, have you read the constitution and what it empowers the president to do to save your life?

Prof, I love you very much, but you are very very wrong, this is an emergency, I guess it is not to you because you and your family members are not on a COVID death bead fighting to stay alive.

I don't get the silly yanga some Nigerians are making over this issue, we well-read and very educated and influential man who should be using his influence to spread a positive message and to educate his fellow men and women about the deadly virus and how to stay safe, practice good hygiene and obey government orders is busy fighting the government instead of fighting the disease.

This careless and irresponsible attitude against the government that's trying to protect Nigerians gives lawless and irresponsible people like him a false sense of awareness

This is just too irritating.

The government is not your enemy, COVID-19 is your enemy.

I No be fan Buhari, this one i stand with him! Na matter of life and death oooo. No time to wast oooo...........
Wait ooo
Primary responsibility of government, no be to protect live and property

It's for those people's sake, he is protecting them from the disease

Katsina,borno,adamawa and most part of north get border with nearby countries...why him no add dem.

Especially Abuja pls. Movements should be restricted but not total lockdown. I understand it is for the good of everyone but there could be emergencies that can't be attended to when this happens.

inject him with the Coronavirus whether he will remember the Constitution.


everyone needs to make some sacrifice so we can contain this virus. we talk about constitutional backing some other time.

They are coming for your head Soyinka.

You fellow Zombies are coming for your head.

donbachi:
Katsina,borno,adamawa and most part of north get border with nearby countries...why him no add dem.

. Oga i no like buhari, but this one stand with him. If you dey stay for lagos , na you where he favor,, this virus no be joke . some thing ought to be done very fast befor it get of hand...

It doesn't cost much to do the right thing, but buhari loves to score own goal.

He loves to trend for the wrong reasons.

Abeg comot for road joor

Ebullience:
Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no constitutional backing to declare a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

While addressing the country in a televised broadcast on Sunday, Buhari had said that starting from 11:00pm on Monday (today), movement within the three cities was banned in order to give authorities the chance to properly combat the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Lagos and Abuja have the highest of infections for the virus in Nigeria.

The total confirmed cases in the Coronavirus in the country currently stands at 111 with one recorded death

But reacting to the situation on Monday, Soyinka said that there was no legal premise upon, which Buhari was making the new order.

He said, "Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds.

"The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

"So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

"Appropriately focussed on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers. We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

"A President who has been conspicuously AWOL is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

"Who actually instigates these orders anyway? From where do they really emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy - `including even trial-and-error and hiccups - undertaken without let or leave of the centre.

"So far, the anti-COVID19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

"I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future."

http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/30/buhari-has-no-constitutional-backing-lock-down-lagos-ogun-abuja-%E2%80%94soyinka

...

A shut down to curtail the further spread of this virus is the way to go in this case, Prof.

I support the president and FG on this and it sure is constitutional.

Interestingly, Prof. Soyinka did not ask for the legal backing to the order that closed churches and mosques two weeks ago. Instead, driven by his atheistic interest, he was quick in supporting it and vociferous in condemning Bishop Oyedepo for holding service.

Inspite of the foregoing, I fully understand and appreciate his fear but it is unfounded. The truth is that there is no group of people who are as protective of their positions and powers as Nigerian State Governors. If the President did not consult them before closing the borders of their states, they would have started kicking already along with their State Houses of Assembly.

I guess Soyinka is hiding safely in his village away from realities of COVID-19 pandemic. Otherwise, he would have known that the situation is so unpredictable that some state governors on their own have taken measures even without consulting state legislators.

Las las everybody including Nobel Laureate is driven by selfish interests.

We have so many president in this country. Orders and counter-orders everywhere

hisexcellency34:
It's not yet 11pm. Soyinka can still issue a counter-directive lifting the curfew

I like you but you are sick!!!

Gandollaar:
They are coming for your head Soyinka.

You fellow Zombies are coming for your head.

lol his fellow zombies in indeed.

Seems you k ow the white haired dindirin

Ebullience:
Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no constitutional backing to declare a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.

While addressing the country in a televised broadcast on Sunday, Buhari had said that starting from 11:00pm on Monday (today), movement within the three cities was banned in order to give authorities the chance to properly combat the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Lagos and Abuja have the highest of infections for the virus in Nigeria.

The total confirmed cases in the Coronavirus in the country currently stands at 111 with one recorded death

But reacting to the situation on Monday, Soyinka said that there was no legal premise upon, which Buhari was making the new order.

He said, "Constitutional lawyers and our elected representatives should kindly step into this and educate us, mere lay minds.

"The worst development I can conceive is to have a situation where rational measures for the containment of the Corona pandemic are rejected on account of their questionable genesis.

"So, before this becomes a habit, a question: does President Buhari have the powers to close down state borders? We want clear answers. We are not in a war emergency.

"Appropriately focussed on measures for the saving lives, and committed to making sacrifices for the preservation of our communities, we should nonetheless remain alert to any encroachment on constitutionally demarcated powers. We need to exercise collective vigilance, and not compromise the future by submitting to interventions that are not backed by law and constitution.

"A President who has been conspicuously AWOL is now alleged to have woken up after a prolonged siesta, and begun to issue orders.

"Who actually instigates these orders anyway? From where do they really emerge? What happens when the orders conflict with state measures, the product of a systematic containment strategy - `including even trial-and-error and hiccups - undertaken without let or leave of the centre.

"So far, the anti-COVID19 measures have proceeded along the rails of decentralised thinking, multilateral collaboration and technical exchanges between states.

"I urge governors and legislators to be especially watchful. No epidemic is ever cured with constitutional piracy. It only lays down new political viruses for the future."

http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/30/buhari-has-no-constitutional-backing-lock-down-lagos-ogun-abuja-%E2%80%94soyinka

This man should just shut up he was one of the people that elected covik president even with his sophisticated reasoning he allowed unsophisticated people to sophisticate him






I still remain Ada ogwashi

Prof Wole Soyinka just woke up.

Hey Prof. Good morning. Hope you washed your hands. Stay indoors. Stay away from trouble. Stay safe.