Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Nigeria’s military involvement in the recently foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.
Speaking on Monday in Lagos at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Awards, the literary icon warned that such interventions could have serious implications for regional stability and Nigeria’s internal security.
In his brief but pointed remarks, Soyinka reflected on governance failures, human rights concerns, worsening insecurity, and the growing danger of misinformation in the digital age.
He described Nigeria’s role in Benin as “another needless military entanglement next door,” insisting that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the country to strengthen its democratic institutions rather than rely on military force as a first response.
Soyinka noted that political unrest in any neighbouring country inevitably affects Nigeria.
“What happens in Benin inevitably affects us. Instability anywhere in the region echoes within our own sense of security,” he said.
The Nobel Laureate also condemned the widespread demolitions carried out in Lagos in recent months, criticising the state government’s handling of displaced residents.
He said he had received photographs and testimonies from victims left homeless, warning that forced evictions had become disturbingly frequent.
While acknowledging the need to remove unsafe structures, he stressed that demolition exercises must be conducted humanely and with proper consideration for vulnerable citizens.
“We must not strip away the humanity of the people affected,” he said, adding that development must not come at the expense of compassion.
Soyinka further raised concerns about what he described as an excessively large security detail assigned to a young individual close to the Presidency, saying the entourage appeared large enough “to take over a small country.”
He questioned why a non-government official should be surrounded by such a formidable formation, describing it as a troubling misuse of state security resources.
“Children must understand their place. They are not elected leaders and must not inherit the instruments of state power simply by proximity,” he said.
Turning to the media, Soyinka commended journalists for their resilience but called for stronger editorial discipline as misinformation continues to spread rapidly online. He warned that unchecked falsehoods could one day trigger global instability.
He added that responsible journalism — grounded in truth, verification, and professional integrity — remains the nation’s strongest defence against chaos.
