By Abiola Olawale
Africa’s literary giant and renowned playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has expressed his reservations regarding the suitability of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to lead Nigeria.
Soyinka, who is the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in Africa, raised concerns about Obi’s ability to govern a diverse society such as Nigeria, citing instances where Obi allegedly failed to restrain his supporters from attacking individuals with dissenting opinions online during the 2023 general election.
Soyinka who emphasized the necessity for a leader to effectively manage a multi-textured society comprising diverse religious, ethnic, and ideological groups, accused Obi of allegedly doing the opposite by encouraging divisive behaviour among his supporters.
The literary icon in a recent interview with digital content curator, Noble Eyisi, also accused Obi of encouraging ‘Obidients’ to attack him and others with opposing views online.
He said: “I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers. I know for a fact, and I can give you an instance that proves that he was in control of those forces.
“But it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-texture society, different religions, different ethnic groups, different world views and who want to preside over sub-groups as one, it means that have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such entity and that’s it.
“I remember the moment when he took out his (mobile device) after he made a statement like ‘Oh don’t worry. You don’t have anything to worry about these people. He was talking about ‘Obidients’. I remember he took out his phone, and he typed a message there. I was watching him very closely, I didn’t say a thing. And after that, everything seemed to be nice and cosy.
“And I saw and I read his statement about that meeting afterwards. The statement was a contrast to what happened, and what we discussed, and I mentioned it in my response. It was a misrepresentation of what happened, and I made sure that I put a statement out saying ‘No, I’m sorry, this is not what was said. This language never came into it”.
The New Diplomat reports that Soyinka had been a strong critic of the Obidient movement.
The elder statesman had, on numerous occasions, criticized the alleged excessive behaviour of Obi’s supporters.
