Soyinka Criticizes Obi’s Supporters, Invites Datti to a Live TV Debate Challenge

Renowned Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned supporters of Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, for their attacks on

his person. These supporters, known as "Obidients", have been disparaging Soyinka over one of his recent comments. Soyinka has described the Obidient movement as a threat to the judiciary.

In an interview with Channels Television, Soyinka revealed that he had warned Obi before the presidential election that if he lost, it would be his followers who would lose it for him. He also criticized the Naira swap policy, saying it had wiped out President Buhari's achievements. In addition, Soyinka expressed his disapproval of the same-faith ticket, calling it controversial and ill-timed.

Soyinka responded to the attacks by Obidients in a statement titled "Fascism on course." He stated that a climate of fear was being generated, and that the refusal to entertain corrective criticism or differing perspectives was becoming a badge of honour and certificate of commitment. Soyinka also criticized the tactics used by Obi's supporters, including ridicule, incrimination, and intimidation. He warned that such tactics were familiar and their objective was to undermine the structure of justice.

Soyinka spoke out against the recent interview granted by Datti Baba-Ahmed, Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, on Channels Television. Baba-Ahmed had declared that the country had no president-elect, despite INEC announcing Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. Soyinka condemned the fine imposed on Channels Television for airing the interview, stating that he had watched the program and noticed how the anchor had restrained Baba-Ahmed to no avail. He offered himself to engage with Datti or any nominee of his on Channels Television’s platform to resolve the bone of contention without the intervention of media trolls.

In conclusion, Soyinka expressed his concerns about the state of the nation, stating that Project NIGERIA had become near terminally soul-searing. He also stated that to rid the country of tyranny and opportunism, they must first rid themselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers.