Datti Gives Prof Soyinka One Condition To Accept ‘Debate Challenge’

The Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed has said he will accept the debate challenge on ‘Channels TV’ by noble professor Wole Soyinka if he (Soyinka) will present his preferred candidate.

“If however he can use his influence to drag his preferred candidates, who resisted debates throughout the campaign, to the studio this second, Datti says he is more than willing to take them on,” Datti said in a statement through the Chief Spokesperson Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PCC), Dr. Yunusa Tanko

This Online News Media reported that Soyinka in an interview with ‘Channels TV’ challenged Datti or any nominee of the party to a live debate on national television.

Speaking further on the challenge, Tanko in the statement titled “DATTI BABA-AHMED WILL NOT DEBATE PROF. SOYINKA” said is obvious that the Professor is criminalising dissent and infact weighing in on the side of fraud and injustice.

Tanko stated that Datti cannot take up Soyinka’s offer of a public debate, not out of cowardice, but for cultural and political reasons.

He added that based on accomplishment and age, it is not descent for Datti to sit face to face with the 88-year-old global icon on a debate which lacks political basis.

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“Like many Nigerians we are bewildered by the late hour intervention of our respected Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka in issues around the flawed 2023 elections.”

“Where was he all this while? One of those who should ordinarily and rightfully be honoured as the conscience of the nation, Prof. Soyinka is now criminalising dissent and infact weighing in on the side of fraud and injustice! We state therefore that the vice-presidential candidate of Labour Party, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed cannot take up Prof. Soyinka’s offer of a public debate, not out of cowardice, but for cultural and political reasons.”

“Culturally it’s just not decent, their age and accomplishment gaps taken into account, for Datti to sit opposite the 88 year-old global icon and point out his folly to his face, even if the old man called for it. And politically there is no basis for such a challenge in that Prof. is not on any of the opposite ballots,” he added.