Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has voiced strong criticism against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, deeming him “unfit” to lead Nigeria.
Soyinka made these remarks during an interview with Noble Eyisi on Thursday.
Peter Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a contentious figure during the election cycle.
“I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader, if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers,” Soyinka stated. He further asserted, “I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces.”
The Nobel Prize winner criticized the divisive actions of Obi’s supporters, whom he referred to as “Obidients,” and accused dishonest political leaders of encouraging such behavior. Soyinka warned that these actions could backfire, saying, “One of these days, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.”
Soyinka expressed his disdain for the behavior of some of Obi’s followers, especially those who engaged in online trolling and the spread of misinformation. “I didn’t read all these insults from Obidients but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were being manufactured,” he said.
Reflecting on the impact of such actions on political discourse, Soyinka remarked, “My attitude was very blasé but it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-textured society — different religions, different ethnic groups, different worldviews — who actually want to preside over such a group as one.”
Soyinka emphasized the importance of integrity and competence in leadership, particularly in a diverse nation like Nigeria. “Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. And so, my attitude was very blasé but it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-textured society,” he concluded.
