Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has warned Nigerian youths to desist from supporting ‘failed leaders.’
Soyinka, however, called on the youths to participate actively in forthcoming general elections in order to retire old politicians.
While speaking at the 2nd Convocation lecture of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, he urged, youths to have representatives in power during the next elections.
He, therefore lamented that old politicians in power have failed the country in all ramifications, hence, the need to be voted out.
Speaking on the Dapchi schoolgirl still held captive by Boko Haram, Soyinka urged youths to stand firm just like Leah Leah against old politicians.
The literary dooyen further hailed Leah for her firmness “like Nelson and Winnie Mandela, who chose to remain in prison despite the offer by the government of South Africa.”
Soyinka said “All I can just tell you is this; don’t make the mistake of following those who failed you before; those who are pretending that they have nothing to do with the disaster that has overtaken Nigeria.
“They are very quick to smell failure, they are very quick to shout it; but then, they exculpate themselves, whereas they are the founding malfeasance of the Nigerian condition: that is what I am warning youths against.
“Mobilize, get your representatives and stop bothering geriatrics like myself. “
