Soyinka: Obi unfit to lead Nigeria

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka says Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election Peter Obi is “unfit” to lead Nigeria.

Soyinka said this in a recent interview with digital creator Noble Eyisi.

The renowned playwright said Obi, a two-term former governor of Anambra State, is “unfit” to lead the country over the actions of his supporters, ‘Obidients’.

Obi came third in the 2023 presidential election behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Soyinka added that he hopes that the former governor does not vie for the presidency in the 2027 election.

He said: “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.

“I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces.”

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Soyinka further stated that dishonest political leaders are encouraging the “divisive actions of the group”, adding: “One of these days, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.

“It has to do with education. I didn’t read all these insults from Obidients but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were being manufactured.

“I know that there is a relay mechanism, which is triggered into action by those who control what we call the trolls of the internet, and so my disgust and contempt.

“I just went about my business, you know, because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks they can stop me telling the truth as I see it needs to have his or her head examined. It’s as elementary as that.

“But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, that kind of attitude in the youth.

“And my mind went to the expression: ‘They don’t know what they’re doing’. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.

“One of these days, they would be astonished, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.

“My attitude was very blase 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.

“It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity.”

The Star