Wole Soyinka scores Buhari administration low on economy, security

- Prof Wole Soyinka asks why there are plans to fill political positions when the current administration has barely gone halfway

- The Nobel laureate says an average Nigerian is now less secure than he was few years ago

- Soyinka states that the past few years have been years of real internal economic disaster for the average citizen

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has faulted politicians who have begun the campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ahead of the 2019 elections.

Soyinka also queried why there are plans to fill political positions when the current administration had barely gone halfway.

He made the statement on Monday, September 11, when speaking with journalists after a press briefing to unveil the second batch of students departing Nigeria for Lebanon for the Study Abroad In Lebanon programme by The Cedars Institute, Lebanon, in collaboration with The Wole Soyinka Foundation, The Punch reports.

When asked if he would endorse Buhari for second term, the Nobel laureate distanced himself form such a discussion.

“Why are we talking about second term for heaven’s sake? I don’t understand this. I refuse to be part of that discussion. I absolutely refuse to be part of the discussion," he said.

As regards security, Soyinka said the current administration had fallen short of the expectation Nigerians, adding that an average Nigerian was now less secure than he was few years ago.

“Take simple security for instance. The average citizen feels less secure now than he did a few years ago; that is evident. When people talk about state police, there are reasons for it. When they talk about bringing policing right down to the community level, they know what they are talking about. This is also part and parcel of reconstruction or reconfiguration,"Soyinka said.

The Nobel laureate also scored the administration low on the economy.

He said: “The economy, there is a big question about it right now. Fortunately, everybody admits that we went through a very bad patch. Right now, it is a question of have we come out of it or not or there is no question at all.

“The past few years have been years of real internal economic disaster for the average citizen.’’

Meanwhile, the deputy director of media, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr Ayo Oyalowo, has stated that Nigerians are lucky to have President Muhammadu Buhari as their leader presently.

Oyalowo, who is also a member of the APC and a popular social media influencer, made the statement on a political programme aired on Channels Television on Sunday, September 11.

The APC chieftain also believes that his party should be given a chance to continue presiding over the nation, adding that the ruling party cannot afford to abort the efforts made so far by the Buhari administration.

He also used the opportunity to canvass for President Buhari to be voted into office for a second term if he desires to run in 2019.