Soyinka accused the leadership of LP of trying to force “a lie” on Nigerians, especially youths, that Obi won the election.
The Nobel laureate spoke at an event titled “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue” organised by Africa in the World.
While speaking at the event, Soyinka was asked to react to his comment against the Vice-Presidential candidate of LP, Datti Baba-Ahmed after the general elections.
Soyinka said the truth matters to him, noting that many people always look for shortcuts.
His words: “This recent election – two things happened first of all. One party took over the labour movement, which is not my favourite movement, and then it became a regional party.
“Whereas it was a marvellous breach into the established two camps. Peter Obi achieved something remarkable there, that he broke that mould. However, he did not win the election.
“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.”
While he alleged that the LP leadership attempted to mobilise young people to protest against the outcome of the election on the “banner of lies and deceit, Soyinka said: “They were going to send some of the hardliners, proud young people into the street to demonstrate.”
He, however, said: “I’m also ready to be among such demonstrators but only on the banner of truth not on lies, and deceit.
“This party (LP) wanted the same thing (referring to 2011 post-election violence) to happen on the basis of a lie and we find this vice-presidential candidate on television boasting, insisting, threatening and trying to intimidate both the judiciary and the rest.
“What kind of government will result from that kind of conduct? In addition, they did not know this but they were being used.
“Before the election, there were certain clandestine forces, including some former generals, who were already calling for an interim government before the elections began.”
While speaking at the event, Soyinka was asked to react to his comment against the Vice-Presidential candidate of LP, Datti Baba-Ahmed after the general elections.
Soyinka said the truth matters to him, noting that many people always look for shortcuts.
His words: “This recent election – two things happened first of all. One party took over the labour movement, which is not my favourite movement, and then it became a regional party.
“Whereas it was a marvellous breach into the established two camps. Peter Obi achieved something remarkable there, that he broke that mould. However, he did not win the election.
“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.”
While he alleged that the LP leadership attempted to mobilise young people to protest against the outcome of the election on the “banner of lies and deceit, Soyinka said: “They were going to send some of the hardliners, proud young people into the street to demonstrate.”
He, however, said: “I’m also ready to be among such demonstrators but only on the banner of truth not on lies, and deceit.
“This party (LP) wanted the same thing (referring to 2011 post-election violence) to happen on the basis of a lie and we find this vice-presidential candidate on television boasting, insisting, threatening and trying to intimidate both the judiciary and the rest.
“What kind of government will result from that kind of conduct? In addition, they did not know this but they were being used.
“Before the election, there were certain clandestine forces, including some former generals, who were already calling for an interim government before the elections began.”
from Vanguard
He's absolutely spot on
ReplyDeleteThe children of anger and bitterness are about to insult him in 1, 2, 3...go!
Lol
All he does is to attack Obi because he dared to challenge the inefficient system, you can never see him attack Atiku. He carried placard when Jonathan introduced fuel subsidy and protested. Since Tinubu is his brother and his daughter is in APC Government, all issue of snatch, rig and run away with it is sidelined
DeletePeople challenge inefficiencies in the system everyday. Obi plainly lied that he won the election then employed one of the lawyers he claimed parades as a lawyer without attending law school to "challenge the process" in court. The guy knows he clearly lost the election but he will rather see Nigeria burn than tell the truth. The same dog and baboon illogical nonsense from years ago. Thank goodness supported of the president who clearly won, Tinubu, and those of tje first runner up are reasonable enough to ignore him.
DeleteLabour party supporters are fascist and they ain't different from the supporters of buhari,Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler,I saw it Early and I called them out on Twitter and Facebook. If you decide to insult, harass or intimidate any person or group of person's that have a different idea or opinion from yours,I will instantly start to avoid you,this was how the nazi movement in Germany started many years ago and also this was how the buhari supporters who called themselves "buharist" misbehaved during the run up to the 2015 elections and all through his administration,the obidients movement is no different today,same set of abusive,non-tolerance and all round horrible behavior.
ReplyDelete"... this was how the nazi movement in Germany started many years ago and also this was how the BUHARI SUPPORTERS WHO CALLED THEMSELVES 'BUHARIST' MISBEHAVED during the run up to the 2015 elections and all through his administration ..."
DeleteThe "Buharists" are HARD CORE APC members. Most of them are known henchmen of APC. Prof. Soyinka did not call them out when they adopted the method you complain of to hound Dr. Jonathan during his tenure. Prof. Soyinka was not known to be vocal when "the Buharists" were using the method you complained of to hound Nigerians pointing out the wrong bends in the road during Alhaji Buhari's drive. However it is good that Prof. Soyinka has woken up now to know that "the Buharists misbehaving method" by APC members who are still in government today, is wrong.
Further, "the Obidients" should stop making it look like the Prof. has just found his voice only because President Tinubu and his wife (who the Prof. is reported to have publicly admitted are his benefactors by trading in rice for him without any investment by the Prof. and gifting him the profits plus home furniture) are now the first citizens of Nigeria.
"The Obidients" should know that it is not good table manners for an elderly man to talk with food in the mouth or expect a very knowledge person to do that in public.
"The Obidients" should also know that every citizen has a right to support his/her benefactor as they have the right to support the presidential aspiration of Mr. Peter Obi.
Every citizen is presumed to know that the Constitution guarantees freedom to reply insults. But usually in our side of the world, it is the older persons who are quick to complain that a reply is insulting after the older person had first insulted.
Let us all support (selfishly or altruistically) whoever we wish to govern Nigeria within the bounds of the law.
But, by the way, does any one man knows it all to lord his/her views over anybody or group of people who disagrees with him/her?
Anon.. your head correct wella.
DeleteThe man won't attack Atiku. I think there's something about Mr Obi they are all afraid of.
Mao Akuh
09:51, 💯💯💯
DeleteYou've written well sir. But we are the "sentimental" and "daft" ones when we point out the obvious truth. All I know is that this a phase in Nigeria. It will pass. Nigeria will be great again. All evil doer, proclaimers of doom will face what they call upon the country.
ReplyDeleteWhy should loosing an election make anyone an enemy of the same country he wants to rule? If there wasn't a Muslim-Muslim ticket, imagine the kind of religion bitterness that would have erupted in christendom by now? People of the same faith will be against themselves all because of a politician. I wonder how we got here.
Nigeria really dodged a bullet in the last election.
Yup yup
DeleteWe sure dodged an 'irrelevant' bullet
May Obidients never happen to Nigeria. God in his infinite mercy will never let that happen.
DeleteEvery right thinking Nigerian knows Obi came distant third in the election. But unfortunately, there is nobody left to think straight in the Obidients camp, otherwise he won't be in the fascist group to begin with Lol. An Igbo candidate who used tribe and religion to deceive many gullibles and came a distance third in the election is claiming to win an election in a multi ethnic nation. He shall continue to Labour in vain!
ReplyDeleteSo what happened in Port Harcourt? Where did all our votes go to? SMH
ReplyDeleteElection has come and go. We dodged a bullet yen yen.
ReplyDeleteInstead of fighting this man that lost the election, let all of us face governance and leave passed election. So much noise for nothing.
How one man ambition is living rent free in some people's head with premium headache is what I'm yet to understand.
With the current hardship abeg nobody should tell me what Peter obi wrong or right.
It's important to continue to remind Nigerians of the important lessons from this season and the dangers of the coup plotting, anti-peace, labor-inciting, judiciary-blackmailing- cult waging a religious war amongst us.
DeleteThis thing is bigger than Obi, it is the fact that they don't ever want an Igbo person to rule this country. The events leading to the civil war still terrifies them. so the worst criminal or an incompetent senile from every other part of the country is better than any erudite just and competent person from the east . see them hailing Umahi wait till he declares interest to rule.
ReplyDeleteTruth is the Igbo's are going to be okay, no doubt about it, no matter how bad things get, our region isn't going to be the worst hit.
but don't come to preach equity and fairness because this country has never been fair to us.
You are right. They are all afraid and jealous of ndi IGBO and that thing that is making them to prevent an Igbo man to rule will scatter one day.
DeleteMao Akuh
@ 12:43, is not about Igbo ruling! Nigeria needs a corrupt criminal to be incharge, because of western ( the UK and the EU,even the US stronghold! Obi will block their neocolonialism stronghold! See what France is doing in Niger!
DeleteThey want leaders, that will keep looting our wealth to their banks , medical tourism and brain drainage to the West.The complete governance break down in Africa, to drive their economy. If Niger gets it right! I will willingly move there, instead of going back to the US.
Canada's Uranium is $200 per Kg, and France was buying Niger's uranium for $0.80, to resell. Most of these bvs writing rubbish are purple brained!!! Let them continue in their tom foolery!!
i like your honesty, you are not trying to deny that it is an igbo agenda
DeleteI also like that you are not denying that they are scared of an Igbo person ruling Nigeria and that it has nothing to do with Obi.
DeleteWatch the primaries of the major parties again and you'll realize who the enemies of an Igbo presidency really are. After that, study the structures of the 2 major parties and the lack of structure in the third position. Look at the political history of OBJ, Buhari, MKO and Tinubu and you'll realize the need to abandon the religious war for lasting alliances. You cannot insult and denigrate Yorubas and Igbos all day then expect them to all queue behind you at quarter to twelve.
DeleteThat was how Buharist started with change change and look at where we are now. Buhari came and turned this nation up side down and his gullible followers used religion to cap it.
ReplyDeleteWith the sufferings on their faces, anytime Mr Obi onyeoma news comes up, the sufferings will relieve them small to talk about him. Mr Obi is not your problem and he didnt start change , neither did he make the cost of food stuff and other things to increase in this nation. Buharist did it, bury Nigeria and the shame is not allowing his gullible followers to talk about change again but rather Mr Obi this, Mr Obi that.
Hope una dey think of Mr Obi for toilet too. Even when una dey knack una wives and girlfriends, and you can't satisfy them na Mr Obi cause'am. yeye gullible pretenders.
Mao Akuh
Why una wan rule zoo? Lol! So animals could prevent you from ruling. Lol!!
DeleteSo prices of goods didn't rise in Anambra when Obi was president despite the fuel subsidy still fully implemented at the time? If you like, blame Tinubu for the weather. Those who voted for him knew the pain that was to come with subsidiy removal and patriotically voted to save this nation from the bin that Argentina, Venezuela, Greece and other nations have found themselves.
DeleteTinubu did not raise the price of goods and neither did anyone who presided before him: market forces did. The more the international price of crude go up in addition to the cost of it's processing, other goods made directly or indirectly from it also rise in price. Over the years, as a poor country like Nigeria struggled to subsidize this commodity with as much as 70 percent of it's yearly earnings, the price rose Ave so did other goods and services manufactured, transported with petroleum .
The current monetary policies of this government have reintroduced Nigeria to the world as the best investment hub in Africa at least and it has evened the playing field, making it easier for investors and indegenes alike to trade their goods and services internationally and bring in the needed forex. It's left for you to take advantage of and not for government to spoonfeed citizens, most of whom live highly subsidized lives and file no taxes.
I didn't see my other comment
ReplyDeleteMao Akuh
Obi won that election and he would live rent free in your bigots minds. That’s why only LP votes were converted for APC in Rivers, Benue, Lagos, Plateau etc. The truth will always prevail and whenever you are in the same group with Eesah, Omotola, milkshakes and other bigots, you should be worried because they are definitely morally bankrupt
ReplyDelete