Soyinka, Chidoka, Others Demand End to Impunity, Urge Nigerians to Reclaim the State

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, former Aviation Minister Chief Osita Chidoka, and ex-Niger Delta Development Commission MD Timi Alaibe have called for Nigeria's national rebirth, emphasizing accountability, justice, and civic courage. They stated that Nigeria cannot overcome its governance issues without ending impunity and restoring respect for human life.

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The life of a human being constitutes the basic unit of any community and any system of governance.

The call came during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture Series and National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Martyrs’ Day in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Chidoka delivered the keynote address, themed ‘Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage.’ Speakers agreed that Nigeria needs a state where citizens are protected from arbitrary abuse of power.

Soyinka dedicated the gathering to victims of state brutality, extrajudicial killings, and mob violence, stressing that every human life must be the foundation of democracy. He lamented the growing culture of impunity, citing recent killings and historical incidents, and urged Nigerians to demand justice for victims while holding perpetrators accountable. He also called for the reopening of unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings and political assassinations.

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What happened to all the files of unsolved killings? We want to know why they happened and ensure justice does not fail us again.

Chidoka argued that Nigeria's primary challenge is not a lack of laws but their inconsistent enforcement, describing the country's governance as an "alibi culture." He stated the state is selectively strong, powerful in collecting from citizens but weak in service delivery, and strong in coercion but weak in explanation. Citing past incidents like the 1997 detention of NAS members and the 2005 Apo Six killings, Chidoka asserted that successive governments have maintained oppressive tactics despite democratic reforms.

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Nigeria’s crisis is not that the state is weak; it is selectively strong. It is strong when collecting from citizens but weak when delivering services. Strong when coercing but weak when explaining.

He insisted that accountability must extend beyond explanations and audits to include correction, restitution, and sanctions, declaring, “Explanation without correction is not accountability.” Chidoka stressed that public officials abusing power must be identified and held personally responsible. He dismissed restructuring as a sole solution, noting that constitutional reforms are important but insufficient without addressing the root causes of impunity.

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Explanation without correction is not accountability.