Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has accused Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State of hypocrisy and promotion of spiritual intolerance following the 24-year jail sentence handed to atheist, Mubarak Bala.
Talking to Punch, Soyinka acknowledged that it was hypocritical of the Ganduje government and the Sharia authorities to be chasing blasphemers whereas the governor himself noticed nothing unsuitable in “stuffing his outfit with {dollars}.”
The nobel laureate additionally mentioned that he was shocked when Ganduje promised to signal the demise warrant of musician, Yahaya Shariff, who was additionally convicted for blasphemy in 2020.
He mentioned;
“You’ll be able to think about a governor saying he would sign the demise warrant of a musician for blasphemy! For me, it’s nothing wanting a criminal offense towards humanity. It reeks of hypocrisy. This was the identical governor that was stuffing his outfit with {dollars}.
“I’ve intentionally not called for his arrest as a result of he enjoys immunity. However these are the individuals who arrest blasphemers”
When requested if he could be in search of Ganduje’s prosecution after he leaves office, Soyinka responded, “Of course, the authorities know what to do once he leaves office.”
Soyinka who referred to as on civil society teams to launch a campaign towards the 24-year imprisonment of Bala and in addition enchantment the sentence, added that it was hypocritical of the northern leaders to hound blasphemers whereas turning a blind eye to corruption.
He mentioned;
“I’m glad that the conviction will likely be appealed however I believe it’s crucial for rights teams to launch a campaign against these atrocities. Nigeria is a secular nation and has no state faith. The conviction is without doubt one of the fallouts of the so-called Sharia that was adopted by some of these states years in the past.
“We aren’t in the dead of night ages or cavemen. Nobody must be imprisoned for his or her spiritual views. The idea of blasphemy shouldn’t even exist in a secular state”
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