Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo in his autobiography had opened a can of worms on many major stakeholders in the country.
One part of the book, My Watch shines light on the nation’s only Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, whom the elder statesman described as “a self-serving critic” who always loved to take the lead on all matters.
He wrote: “For Wole, no one can be good, nor can anything be spot-on politically except that which emanates from him or is ordained by him, His friends and loved ones will always be right and correct no matter what they do or fail to do.”
Obasanjo described Soyinka as “a misfit as a political analyst, commentator or critic,” adding that it was good that Mr. Soyinka did not go into politics.
“He is surely a better wine connoisseur and a more successful “aparo” (guinea fowl) hunter than a political critic, not to talk of what he would do as a politician,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
“I take him seriously on almost all issues except on the political particularly Nigerian politics.”
He however thinks the Nobel Laurate has calmed down recently after he turned 80.
Obasanjo finally wrote: “If I go before him, I will bid him welcome when he arrives at the great beyond. I hope he would do the same if he succeeds in getting there before me and we find ourselves on the same side of the divide.”
