Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu has defended Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. The defence came amidst criticisms from supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), over his recent comments.
Soyinka had condemned Datti Baba-Ahmed, for his statement on the party’s suit challenging the presidential election. Soyinka described such act as “fascist and unacceptable.”
In reaction to the online attacks on Soyinka, Moghalu assured supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as ‘Obidients’, that Soyinka would survive their flood of criticism just as he survived dictators in the past.
Moghalu praised Soyinka as a principled fighter for justice in Nigeria and around the world adding that he had endorsed Moghalu’s presidential candidacy in the 2019 election, which was one of the greatest honors of his life.
Soyinka had condemned Baba-Ahmed’s statement in an interview on Arise TV, where he stated that the judgment of the Supreme Court must favor his party. Baba-Ahmed had argued that the winner of the presidential election must score the highest number of votes and at least 25 percent each in two-thirds of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Baba-Ahmed further stated that Bola Tinubu, who was declared as the ‘President-elect’, did not satisfy the requirement.
Soyinka’s comments sparked negative reactions from Obi’s camp, with many claiming he had no moral justification to condemn Baba-Ahmed. When asked what part of Baba-Ahmed’s statement he considered as unbecoming, Soyinka said, “Nearly the totality.”
Moghalu called on Nigerians to desist from criticizing Soyinka for being objective, as he had survived dictators and would survive them too.
