Prof Wole Soyinka Sends Message To Obidients

Professor Wole Soyinka has responded to the supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi known as ‘Obidients’ following controversies and critics over expressing his opinion on the comments made by the party’s vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that Soyinka in an interview with ‘Channels TV’ condemned the comments made by Datti over the swearing in of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

According to the Professor, Datti “comments were unbecoming, a threat to the judiciary. It is a fascist language which alienates the people. It is unacceptable and I refuse to be a part of it.”

However, the Obidients feels disappointed by the Soyinka’s condemnation of the VP comments. Obidients in their quest to find answers demands to know which of the comments made by Datti is unbecoming and fascistic as said by Soyinka.

Replying to the Obidients in a statement titled ‘Fascism On Course‘, Soyinka said the ‘seeds of seeds of incipient fascism in the political arena have evidently matured‘.

Soyinka wrote; “The ensuing cacophony has been truly bewildering. It strikes me as a possible ploy to smother recent provocations by other, far more trenchant issues, such as revelations of declarations of a religious war.

DON’T MISS: Prof Soyinka Fumes, Challenges Datti Baba-Ahmed To Live Debate On Channels TV

“If so, let it be known that I have long declared war against religious fundamentalism, the nature of which justifies the butchery, kidnapping and enslavement of students in the name of religion.”

“By the way, I do agree with Seun Kuti; ‘Obidients’ is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena. Some love it however, and this is what freedom is about. Choice. Taste. Free emotions.

“By contrast, I have no quarrel with “Yes Daddy”. Roman Catholics are used to saying “Yes, Father”. Secularists say “Enh, Baba”. The context and content are what matters, and lies – where established – raise bothersome issues such as Integrity Deficiency.

However, he went on to say, “Such beginnings – and instances are numerous – have culminated in the open intimidation of the Court of Last Resort, even before proceedings have begun.”

In conclusion, Soyinka emphasised that justice is the first condition of humanity and that society finds it unacceptable for a party to a dispute to resort to influencing tactics by extra-judicial means.

“Intimidation and threats are merely the obverse complements of material inducement. Those who fail to appreciate this are entirely free to their existence in an illusory world,” he said.