Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has decried what he described as the climate of fear being generated in Nigeria‘s polity following the country’s 2023 general election.
Development Diaries reports that the renowned playwright expressed his concerns in a statement titled ‘Fascism on course (I)’, where he criticised ‘Obidients’ – a term describing supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the February 25 poll, Peter Obi.
Soyinka had on Channels television and later on Arise television faulted the ‘fascist language’ of Obi’s running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who had said in a television interview that swearing in Bola Tinubu as president is ‘ending democracy’ and a clear violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The essayist also faulted voter suppression recorded in some polling units in Lagos State during the March 18 governorship and state legislative polls among other issues.
‘A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment’, Soyinka, in his latest statement, said.
‘What is at stake, ultimately is – truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, truth remains permanently elusive.
‘The ensuing cacophony has been truly bewildering. It strikes me as a possible ploy to smother recent provocations by other, far more trenchant issues, such as revelations of declarations of a religious war. If so, let it be known that I have long declared war against religious fundamentalism, the nature of which justifies the butchery, kidnapping and enslavement of students in the name of religion. That aspirant’s alleged gaffe cuts no ice with me.
‘Far more alarming was the grotesque fantasy of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court disguised as a wheelchair, zooming off in space to a secret meeting with other parties of the conflict. On its own, that is sufficiently scary. Swiftly followed thereafter by a television tirade of intimidation, it strikes one as more than the mere antics by the mentally deranged. The tactics are familiar: ridicule, incriminate, then intimidate. Objective: undermine the structure of justice. Just as a reminder: this writer was not being rhetorical when he declared, on exiting prison detention: Justice is the first condition of humanity’.
He further said, ‘Obidients’ is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena. Some love it, however, and this is what freedom is about’.
The Obidients and some supporters of the president-elect, Tinubu, have since been exchanging banters on social media, with some trolling Soyinka online with bullets of insults.
🅾️ Wole Soyinka you are a benefactor of Tinubu criminality in Lagos state You are a disciple of Tinubu by night and form neutral by day. You are a coward
Barrister Olalekan 📌#Tinubuisadrugbaron Nnewi Yoruba Rascal Datti Asisat Igbo Spanish Dele Alake Brother Bernard Obituary… pic.twitter.com/PEer9Ym0NA
— SirOdue (@Sirodue1) April 9, 2023
The Wole-Soyinka-transformation-into-Femi-Fani-Kayode story arc is finally complete, so I think everybody will rest now.
Legacy completely in tatters and all for what? Personal loyalties at the expense of basic rationality and common sense.
Literally an 88 year-old frat boy.
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) April 8, 2023
THIS WAS 1965; “31Yr Old Soyinka Declared Wanted For Seizing Radio Station At Gunpoint Over Western Region Elections Rigging!”
He was said to have held a pistol to a broadcaster’s head to prevent the victory speech of the declared winner of a rigged election result. pic.twitter.com/XK5VZfwPv3
— LabourPartyNG Support (@NgLabourSupport) April 7, 2023
Una insult PA Ayo Adebanjo, Doyin Okupe, Olusegun Obasanjo. All respectable Yoruba elders. But where you draw the line is with Wole Soyinka. Walahi e ni shorire. Those of you that fall into this category.
— Pappy Jay (@pappyyj) April 8, 2023
Wole Soyinka, the man who spent three years in Jail for supporting Biafra is now the enemy and Obasanjo, the man who intercepted Biafra & chased ojukwu to exile is a hero to Zik’s sons. Exact traits of propagandists. They hate the truth from anyone when it opposes their agenda. pic.twitter.com/HGIf7n4BwM
— Gbonka Ebiri (@EbiriGbonka) April 7, 2023
Grey Hair doesn’t define wisdom. Here’s a piece of advice from US vice president Kamala Harris to Wole Soyinka and other CORNfused Nigerians.
Obidients Retweet 🔄 This Sermon👇
# Datti Dele Alake, Benue, Rinu Biafra, Rufai Toyin Abraham, AK-47, Peter Obi, Gang of Lagos, Tobi pic.twitter.com/wgzL8mg9p4
— CECO (@Cecorule) April 8, 2023
Please can anyone show me anywhere Soyinka criticised Buhari and the APC consistently in the past 8 years?
Or was he busy eating corn? pic.twitter.com/KpiUuddJmw— Baridueh Badon (@BadonB) April 8, 2023
Freedom of expression
Nigerians are free to express themselves. Section 39 of the country’s 1999 Constitution provides that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference.
However, Development Diaries believes that the current trend of divisions along tribal and religious lines in the country is dangerous and political leaders and their supporters need to tone down the rhetoric.
While Nigerians are free to express themselves, they need to avoid making comments that could incite violence and set the nation on fire.
We therefore call on the president-elect, Tinubu, and Obi to as a matter of urgency call on their spokespersons and supporters to end their verbal attacks for the sake of peace.
Photo source: European Parliament
