A coalition of civil society and community-based organisation has lashed out Nigerians who accused two popular human rights activists of remaining silent on the present hardship in the country....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
The NHRC in a statement on Saturday, said that younger people calling on Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and prominent rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) to lead mass protests against the situation in Nigeria are driven by complete lack of any sense of history, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) said at the weekend.
The group stated that these critics are misinformed and driven by a mix of ignorance, lack of education, and ethnic prejudice.
According to NHRC, these young Nigerians are unfairly targeting the activists, who have dedicated their lives to fighting for human rights and social justice in Nigeria.
The group urged youths to emulate Mr Omoyele Sowore who from age 19 has dedicated his live to the fight for justice and equity both at home and abroad
The statement partly read, “We wish to remind this people, mostly young people that their actions constitute a drawback to the rich heritage of democratic struggle the two figures represent in the history of Nigeria,” it said.
“The problem with most young people is either they don’t read, they lack any sense of history or are ridiculously lacking in knowledge,” the NHRC said in a statement signed by its officials, Taiwo Adeleke and Digifa Werenipre.
“We urge younger ones to learn from Mr Omoyele Sowore and emulate his sterling contributions to democracy and justice for over 30 years of his life. Study the sacrifices and risks he has taken instead of dedicating their lives to condemnation of Soyinka and Falana do or what they did not do.”
The group further claimed that Soyinka and Falana began to fight for justice through rallies, legal advocacy and street protests since their early 20s urging those criticising them to emulate their footsteps by following the examples of sacrifices and personal suffering they have endured in the struggle to free Nigeria from the fetters or iron.
It is untrue that Soyinka and Falana have been quiet after Bola Tinubu emerged President in 2023, adding that the critics are just too blind to admit the positive roles being played by the two icons, the group as said.
The statement further read, “Some of them believe the word activism makes sense only when speaking in support of Obidients indicating their narrow mindset about what it means to change a country for the better.
“Soyinka began the struggle at 21 while Falana started even earlier. Both have put in between 45 to 65 years of their lifetime in the ceaseless and tireless struggle for a better Nigeria at the risk of their lives.
“These young, ignorant, misguided critics who spend most of their time in either parties, beer parlours or on the social media should stop expecting a 90-year-old man to set agenda for the generation of young people in their 20s who have better equipment and advanced technology to fight for justice but have rather converted the medium to pouring venom on leaders that have made genuine sacrifices in the most difficult period of Nigerian history.
“Soyinka took part in street demonstrations even in his 90s. It is time for him to rest. Falana has continued to fight several battles for Nigerians of all ethnicity, fought for justice for armed and defenceless peoples alike.”
“His son led the ENDSARS struggle while his father provided legal services for hundreds of detained ENDSARS protesters. Falana has several cases against the current government of President Bola Tinubu while he also took part in a series of protests up to 2024. It is naive and unjust even to the point of irresponsibility to seek to stretch the two men beyond physical and moral limits.
“We are seeing a generation of lousy, lazy and completely ignorant youths whose basic agenda is to destroy Nigerian heroes thereby serving the interests of the Government and the ruling class who oppress Nigerians.
“It is not impossible that many of them are paid to demystify Nigerian true heroes in order to diminish the mass-based support they command among Nigerians and the fact that they seek to blackmail heroes who truly represent the suffering masses.
“When Soyinka and Falana were younger, they did not look up to the older generation to liberate them. They rather discovered the mission of their own generation and fulfilled it.
“Instead of taking up the profession of attacking the older generation, Soyinka and Falana rather built on and improved on the legacy of the heroes of their time and surpassed their records.
“We challenge those young critics to provide alternatives. We challenge you to lead the battle for the freedom of your generation.
“We challenge you to take the bull by the horns and provide alternative leadership for change instead of taking up the professional duty of running down those that have established milestones in the struggle for a better Nigeria.” ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
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