The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has criticised younger Nigerians urging the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, to lead mass protests against the country’s current situation, describing such calls as a result of historical ignorance.
In a statement signed by Taiwo Adeleke and Digifa Werenipre, the NHRC, a coalition of civil society and community-based organisations, expressed concern over online criticism, including mock video clips accusing Soyinka and Falana of remaining silent on Nigeria’s challenges. The group described these critics as ignorant, uneducated, and, in some cases, influenced by ethnic bias.
The statement read: “We wish to remind these individuals, mostly young people that their actions undermine the rich heritage of democratic struggle that both figures represent in Nigeria’s history.”
The NHRC noted that many young people lack knowledge, a sense of history, or the inclination to read, urging them to study the sacrifices and personal suffering endured by Soyinka and Falana in their decades-long fight for justice.
“Soyinka began his activism at 21, while Falana started even earlier. Both have devoted between 45 to 65 years of their lives to the ceaseless struggle for a better Nigeria, often at great personal risk,” the group said.
The NHRC rejected claims that the duo had been silent since President Bola Tinubu’s emergence in 2023, stating that critics ignore their continued contributions. It pointed out that activism should not be limited to the “narrow mindset” of supporting a single movement, such as the Obidients Movement, but should encompass broader efforts for national progress.