 Staying with the president, President Mohammad Ibrahim's controversial statement that his government will deal with the violent secessionists in the Southeast in the language they understand has been condemned by Nobel laureate Wallace Shoyinka. Professor Shoyinka in a statement says, Mr. President's recent deployment of this language is thus wrongly targeted and tragically untimely. The president's statement has stirred controversy across Nigeria and beyond, with critics describing it as insensitive and suggesting genocide against the Igbos. The president's supporters, however, say the statement was simply a stern warning to violent secessionists in the Southeast.