- By Halimah Olamide
I remember this Soyinka insulting Late General Abacha, insulting him to the core that he was daft, nothing gives him the right to do that
The former Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, has asserted that intellect does not give Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka the right to insult anyone.
He made the assertion during an interview session with Arise TV following Soyinka’s statement that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, is unfit to govern Nigeria.
“Intellect does not give you the right to insult anybody, I remember this Soyinka insulting Late General Abacha, insulting him to the core that he was daft, nothing gives him the right to do that.
“Abacha was not an academic, he was a soldier for God’s sake, and a good one for that matter in his own way and right.” He said.
Soyinka had stated that the conduct of his supporters, also known as ‘Obidients’, during electioneering of the 2023 general elections was enough evidence.
He also alleged that the former Anambra State governor encouraged his supporters, Obidients, to attack him and anyone with opposing views, therefore indicating a lack of leadership capacity.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the literary veteran is scared that the good Peter Obi will impact Nigeria.
“The learned-elder state man, Professor Sole Soyinka is scared in advance about what good Peter Obi will bring to Nigeria. He’s scared in advance that the end is still looking very likely.
“And what Soyinka is doing now is an attempted distraction which I beg you Ito excuse me from joining issues with Wole Soyinka. For all I know he could continue to throw punches at my principal, all I can do, I’ll grieve in my heart and pray for him.”
Speaking further, he established that there was no way he or Peter Obi could control the large crown of Obidents in their numbers.
“As a partial academic, Nobel laureates all over the world are loved and cherished by their people, not just their nationals but globally. I’ve never heard where Nobel laureates insult in the manner Wole Soyinka does.
“Nigerians contested through Peter Obi and me, we say this many times. It was a force that came alive, a genuine and powerful one that one election announced taken away.
“Never mind what INEC declared, there is no way Peter Obi with all the issues in front of him and my humble self can control Obidients the way they are.
“It is not the work of Peter Obi to control Obedients, It is the responsibility of Wole Soyinka to maintain his respect and dignity. I could say a few things about him that will destroy him for good but I wouldn’t say that.”