One of Nigeria’s literary giants and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has dismissed the arguments that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

Speaking on Friday in Bayelsa state, Soyinka said restructuring should be considered.

“We must stop confusing and mixing up the argument, we are mixing up the argument. It is very unfortunate for our leaders to say that the question of breaking up or not breaking up should not have arisen in the first place. It all sounds hypocritical, dogmatic and dictatorial. The statement is the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, now that to me is a false,” he said, according to TheCable.

“Anything is negotiable, the right for people to determine their future is what is non-negotiable. Most nations came to be through negotiation.

“Sometimes, when people say negotiate, what they really mean is restructuring. What should the question be: should Nigeria break up? My answer to that is no, but please don’t tell me that Nigeria, as it stands is non-negotiable. For me, this is a fallacy.

“The nation has got to be negotiated, negotiation includes ensuring that there is no marginalisation. Negotiation means control of resources, negotiation has to do with restructuring a nation in a way that the components and constituents are not feeding an over-bloated centre to the detriment of their development. The language we should use is what are you willing to sacrifice? What efforts are you willing to make to ensure Nigeria remains intact? That is the question.”

Also speaking, Seriake Dickson, governor of Bayelsa, said while the unity of Nigeria is desirable and negotiable, aggrieved nationalities should sit down and dialogue.

“Nigeria’s unity is negotiable and desirable. The answer on whether to break up is no. There is a desire to stay as one. Ask questions about what is happening, there are several things to negotiate,” he said.

“If we can control our resources, we will do more for our people. All we need to do is to talk about existence, our living together. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Omoleye Omoruyi

Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram