Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Gatekeepers News reports that while speaking in an interview with The Africa Report, Soyinka said the state of emergency undermines the principles of federalism.
The renowned writer further said the Nigerian constitution gives the president too many powers.
He advocated for constitutional amendments to ensure genuine federalism, questioning the wisdom of the emergency declaration.
Soyinka said, “If it is constitutionally right, then I think it is about time we sat down and amended the constitution to make sure that it operates as a genuine federal entity.”
“The government is over-centralised. The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision but in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association.”
“I find that the constitution has put too much power in the hands of the president. The system we are operating right now is not the best for a pluralistic society like ours. That is a fundamental principle I have always held.”
He also called for a national conference
that would provide an opportunity to “really accord ourselves an authentic people’s constitution.”
Soyinka said, “The federal spirit of association is a cardinal principle… right now, in principle, this action is against the federal imperative.”
