The literary giant had in an interview wondered why Peter Obi claimed to have won the February 25 , 2023 Presidential election.
According to Soyinka, Obi “did not win that election. I was in a monitoring organisation. I can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third, not even second, and the leadership knew it.
“But they want to do what we call in Yoruba ‘gbajue’, that is force of lies”.
Reacting, Labour Party, in a statement issued on Thursday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Soyinka of being blind to truth.
The party questioned why the Nobel Laureate, was mute when some elements threatened Lagos residents to leave the state prior to the election.
The statement reads partly, “The Labour Party took note of the statement that emanated from the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whom, as an institution, we have the utmost respect for. He is a Nigerian whose accomplishments in the literary world are without doubt intimidating.
“However, we beg to disagree with his prognosis and personal opinion on the performance of our party during the 2023 general elections. The facts are before the courts and out of respect for our judiciary, we will reserve our comments until the Supreme Court makes a final pronouncement.
“We understand that the literary giant is human and thus susceptible to emotions and probably said what he said based on information made available to him by those who share the ‘Emilokan sentiment’.
“In Yoruba, ‘Gbajue’ refers to fraudulent activities like age, name or certificate forgery, 419 or narcotics trafficking, all of which are issues in the 2023 elections but not on the Labour Party’s part.
“‘Gbajue’ in Yoruba also literally means ‘slap him/her in the face.’ Have all Nigerians not been slapped sufficiently in the face? Thanks to this man of letters for bringing this out albeit, advertently. It’s rather interesting that the erudite Prof.
“Soyinka, who owned up to having an electoral “monitoring unit” conveniently glossed over INEC’s legerdemain leading to substantial non compliance and erosion of constitutional dictates, just as he conveniently glossed over the INEC’s advanced ‘gbajue’ of February 25 that has surreptitiously installed the King of ‘gbajue’ in Aso Rock.
“It is most befuddling as well as disconcerting that a detribalized and activist Soyinka would succumb to the groupthink syndrome that subscribes to State Capture by those belonging to the criminal fringe by any means, based on primordial considerations.
“We really appreciate him for at least giving some credits to Labour Party and its Presidential candidate for breaking the monopoly of power hitherto held by the two other parties. We also noted his admission of his willingness to be part of a demonstration which would be based on the banner of truth.
However, we are aware that Soyinka resides in Lagos State and he was in Nigeria in February 25 when elections held in Nigeria. He watched probably with a glee when a certain individual in Lagos warned non-indigenes to vote a particular political party or risk being deported to their place of birth, and he never condemned it.
“He was there when ballot boxes were snatched by thugs in a polling booth right in front of his house, he didn’t condemn it. We are still looking for where he came out to condemn the unprovoked attacks on our supporters in Lagos by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, during the last elections”.
According to Soyinka, Obi “did not win that election. I was in a monitoring organisation. I can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third, not even second, and the leadership knew it.
“But they want to do what we call in Yoruba ‘gbajue’, that is force of lies”.
Reacting, Labour Party, in a statement issued on Thursday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Soyinka of being blind to truth.
The party questioned why the Nobel Laureate, was mute when some elements threatened Lagos residents to leave the state prior to the election.
The statement reads partly, “The Labour Party took note of the statement that emanated from the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whom, as an institution, we have the utmost respect for. He is a Nigerian whose accomplishments in the literary world are without doubt intimidating.
“However, we beg to disagree with his prognosis and personal opinion on the performance of our party during the 2023 general elections. The facts are before the courts and out of respect for our judiciary, we will reserve our comments until the Supreme Court makes a final pronouncement.
“We understand that the literary giant is human and thus susceptible to emotions and probably said what he said based on information made available to him by those who share the ‘Emilokan sentiment’.
“In Yoruba, ‘Gbajue’ refers to fraudulent activities like age, name or certificate forgery, 419 or narcotics trafficking, all of which are issues in the 2023 elections but not on the Labour Party’s part.
“‘Gbajue’ in Yoruba also literally means ‘slap him/her in the face.’ Have all Nigerians not been slapped sufficiently in the face? Thanks to this man of letters for bringing this out albeit, advertently. It’s rather interesting that the erudite Prof.
“Soyinka, who owned up to having an electoral “monitoring unit” conveniently glossed over INEC’s legerdemain leading to substantial non compliance and erosion of constitutional dictates, just as he conveniently glossed over the INEC’s advanced ‘gbajue’ of February 25 that has surreptitiously installed the King of ‘gbajue’ in Aso Rock.
“It is most befuddling as well as disconcerting that a detribalized and activist Soyinka would succumb to the groupthink syndrome that subscribes to State Capture by those belonging to the criminal fringe by any means, based on primordial considerations.
“We really appreciate him for at least giving some credits to Labour Party and its Presidential candidate for breaking the monopoly of power hitherto held by the two other parties. We also noted his admission of his willingness to be part of a demonstration which would be based on the banner of truth.
However, we are aware that Soyinka resides in Lagos State and he was in Nigeria in February 25 when elections held in Nigeria. He watched probably with a glee when a certain individual in Lagos warned non-indigenes to vote a particular political party or risk being deported to their place of birth, and he never condemned it.
“He was there when ballot boxes were snatched by thugs in a polling booth right in front of his house, he didn’t condemn it. We are still looking for where he came out to condemn the unprovoked attacks on our supporters in Lagos by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, during the last elections”.
From Dailypost
Hmmm Robust reply don land 😊😊😊 Arguments well put out, devoid of insults, propaganda & bigotry.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteHonestly this Baba Soyinka has been so deceived and brainwashed that he no longer knows what is happening, he is too old and needs to rest, just like their emilokan president.
ReplyDeleteE be like say him don dey forget things o.
DeleteCorrect reply
Mao Akuh
''In Yoruba, ‘Gbajue’ refers to fraudulent activities like age, name or certificate forgery, 419 or narcotics trafficking, all of which are issues in the 2023 elections but not on the Labour Party’s part.''
ReplyDeleteWhoever wrote this statement did a great one. I so much love the response.
I duff my hat to the one who dropped this press release.
Tinubu didn't win and he is not even qualified to run for that office but the fact is that Tinubu has put solid plans to orchestrate his way and there is nothing anybody can do to retrieve the mandate from him...they didn't stop him before the election and you think they can stop him now he is already there and controlling more people and sensitive positions..??
ReplyDeleteNo matter how smart a criminal is, there will always be loose ends.
DeleteTrue @Exege
DeleteThat's the difference between the truth and lies..
Truth explains itself, it's very easy to defend..
Lies, Omo you go dey explain the abracadabra tire.. it's why good liars have mastered the act of saying less, the less the better, before you go open another branch of explanation wey go expose you.. lies means convincing a person on something which never existed.. you have to be smart to be a good liar.. not to talk of this large scale deceit where there are evidences everywhere.. they'll continue spending on propaganda and not be able to achieve anything meaningful at the end of the day
Dante nailed it.
DeleteTime for doing developmental projects will be spent giving 'explanations".
The Labour Party statement appears wrong on two points. The threat made wasn't of deportation and it was to all who would not vote for APC in Lagos State. The threat was of loss of life or limbs. The bloodied face of that woman is the testimonial. The video is the evidence.
ReplyDeleteThe Professor's refusal to condemn those actions as much as he has been on Labour Party case shows his bias. His comments on the election should be treated in the same way he wants those of the Obidients to be treated.