…Says “Obidients cant stop me from telling truth“
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said that the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is unfit to lead the country.
This, he said, had become evident with the conduct of his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, during electioneering of the 2023 general elections.
He said that Obis failure to reign on his supporters attacking others with opposing views online was a pointer that he is unfit to lead a country like Nigeria.
The literary icon also accused Obi, who is a former Anambra governor, of encouraging Obidients to attack him and others with opposing views online.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Nobel laureate said he hoped the former governor wont contest the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on his experience with trolls online in a recent interview with Noble Nigeria, Soyinka said the episode wont change him, adding that those expecting him to keep quiet should get their head examined.
On the ‘Obidient’ movements attack on his personality, he said, Again, it has to do with education. I feel disgusted especially when facts are being manufactured. I read some of these things and I was disgusted. There is no other word for it, I really was disgusted. And I know it was orchestrated. The Internet has become so promiscuous; and I know there is a relay mechanism that is triggered into action by those who control the trolls of the Internet.
Justifying his claim that Obi was in control of the trolls, Soyinka said, Its simply because when he first came to visit me; you know, he did come at one time, and I watched him. I watched his actions and body language; it seemed to be very conciliatory. I remember the moment when he took out his (mobile device) after he made a statement like: Oh dont worry. You dont 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 didnt say a thing. And after that, everything seemed to be nice and cosy.
But I saw and I read his statement about that meeting afterwards. The statement was a contrast to what actually happened, what we discussed; 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, Im sorry, this is not what was said. This language never came into it.
The literary icon explained that it was surprising that Obi would, after the meeting, put out a different narrative of what really transpired. He, however, warned that if the trolls are not controlled, those instigating their actions would soon feel the wrath of what they have created.
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The Nobel laureate also said the supporters of Peter Obi, and others who are averse to contrary views cant stop him from speaking truth to power. He said despite the attack on his personality by Obis supporters who are known as Obidents, during the build-up to the 2023 general elections, he would continue his style of putting out facts in his interventions.
Soyinka had in May 2023 come under criticism on social media by LP and Obis supporters for faulting some remarks made by the LP vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed. The playwright had described Baba-Ahmeds comments as fascistic language.
