Against the backdrop of his 89th birthday celebrations, Prof Wole Soyinka on Sunday made three demands of the Federal Government. He called on security agencies to reopen unresolved cases of religious killings and create a public holiday for traditionalists.

Soyinka expressed his disappointment with the failure of security officials to prosecute those responsible for extrajudicial killings. He specifically mentioned the case of Deborah Samuel, a second-year student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State, who was killed on May 12, 2022, over allegations of blasphemy. He urged the authorities to open the files on all those who have committed extrajudicial killings in the name of religion, starting with Deborah's case.

Soyinka's second demand was directed at the diplomatic community. He emphasized that placing travel restrictions on perpetrators of electoral violence in the upcoming 2023 general elections is not enough. He called for visa bans to be extended to religious bigots as well.

Additionally, Soyinka highlighted the neglect faced by traditionalists in the country and declared that they have endured enough. He advocated for traditional religions to be granted an annual public holiday, similar to Islam and Christianity. He emphasized the need for equal time and space, demanding public holidays from state governments, local governments, and the Federal Government.