Wole Soyinka has said the Federal Government cannot negotiate with the leader of Boko Haram as he is a sub-human specie incapable of dialogue.
During a phone interview, Soyinka said Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram sect was ‘high on religion and drugs’.
Soyinka said, “For me, we are dealing with a sub-human species. How do you dialogue with that kind of obscenity?”
After Shekau released a video on Monday, proposing to swap the abducted girls for members of his sect detained, there has been conflicting views about what the government. Some top government officials said the government will negotiate while others said the government will not negotiate.
However yesterday, President Jonathan took a stand and said he will not accept the terrorists’ proposal.
Soyinka also condemned those criticising the government for accepting foreign help, saying such critics were only showing their lack of compassion for the missing girls, adding that this was a global crisis and all help is welcome.
“For the international community, given such horrifying violence, intervening is not a favour. It is a duty,” he said.
Soyinka however warned President Jonathan against stopping the public from expressing their pain and anger over the missing girls and incessant Boko Haram attacks which has killed many. He said if people want to protest, the government should let them because they have been in pain for a very very long time.
“If the protests continue, the government had better get out of the way,” Soyinka said.