Renowned Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has voiced his opposition to statements made by the Datti Baba-Ahmed, regarding the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS, Soyinka accused Baba-Ahmed of using “fascistic language” and making “menacing” comments that could potentially incite national discord.
“I never heard anyone threaten the judiciary the way I heard Datti speaking. Blackmailing attitude. Do or die provocation is not what we are struggling for,” said Soyinka.
The Laureate expressed his displeasure with Baba-Ahmed’s repeated calls for the Supreme Court to give his interpretation of the law. He accused the VP candidate of trying to dictate the judiciary. He described such language as “unacceptable” and a threat to the judiciary.
In addition, Soyinka condemned the media for taking sides in political reporting, thereby jeopardizing public discourse. He warned that such actions could alienate the supporters of political parties and fan the flames of fascism in Nigerian politics.
During the interview, Soyinka also spoke out against the violent attacks on non-indigenes during the presidential and gubernatorial elections. He described such incidents as “disgraceful” and “shameful”. He called for a decentralization of power in the Nigerian federation. This would allow various arms of government to operate independently down to the grassroots level.
Soyinka cited the example of Lagos, Ondo, and Kaduna states opposing the federal government on the currency swap as an example of the kind of decentralization he would like to see. He called for the infusion of a younger generation into Nigerian politics, to bring in fresh ideas and revive the country.
In conclusion, Soyinka urged political candidates to avoid using threatening and dictatorial language. The media should report objectively on political matters for public analysis.
