Prof Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari’s government against unleashing security operatives on Nigerians when they gather to exchange ideas.
YaahooJournalist reports that Soyinka made this comment while speaking in Badagry on Saturday at the unveiling of an art gallery in commemoration of his 85th birthday.
The statement of the human rights activist is coming after the security agents recently shut down a venue for a symposium where Soyinka and others were scheduled to speak.
Soyinka said: “It is important to send a strong message to this government and to the security services to stop trying to muzzle people when they come together to exchange ideas.
“You’re reducing them as human beings and you’re also reducing yourselves as human beings because it means you’re afraid to listen.”
Speaking on Social Media, Soyinka advised Nigerians not to believe every material they see on social media.
“Be very, very careful what you believe even when you read such materials in social media or sometimes in newspapers because in this country, we have a most fertile multiplier effect,” Soyinka said.
“When somebody hears something, he puts it on the Internet, it spreads and an industry begins as people start commenting on things which never existed.
“Sometimes on social media, you’ll even see trending quotes supposedly from me, with my name, my photograph, with statements which represents what those people want to say but lacked the courage to say it.”
