Prof. Wole Soyinka
Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths of prominent Nigerians, including Dele Giwa, Kudirat Abiola, and Bola Ige.
Soyinka made this plea while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Saturday, June 14, 2024, during the Democracy Day celebration.
Soyinka emphasized that some Nigerians around the world might possess valuable information that could shed light on these unsolved cases.
“Some Nigerians around the world have and could provide clues to the killings,”* he said.
The renowned author believes that probing these deaths would bring closure to the matter and honor the memories of the deceased.
President Tinubu recently awarded national honors to some heroes of the struggle, including posthumous awards to Kudirat Abiola and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. Additionally, Tinubu granted a posthumous state pardon to environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine, executed in 1995 by the Sani Abacha-led military regime.
Soyinka warned against downplaying the significance of the June 12 struggle, noting that many people lost their lives, and others suffered greatly during the military junta.
“No one should make light of the weight and importance of the June 12 struggle, as many people died, and many others were greatly injured by the military junta,” he emphasized.
Soyinka revealed that he would dedicate his own national honor to the memory of Late Beko Ransom-Kuti, a defender of human rights and champion of good governance.
“I will be dedicating my honors to the memory of Late Beko Ransom-Kuti,”* he said.
The presidency recently denied awarding national honors to human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and 35 others, sparking controversy over the list of awardees.
