Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has said a recent comment by the Labour Party vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed on the constitutional requirements for anyone to be declared Nigeria’s president is provocative.
Recall that Datti had, during an interview with Channels Television, asserted that swearing in the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29 may be the end of democracy in Nigeria.
Datti hinged his assertion on the section of the constitution that requires anyone aspiring to be Nigeria’s president to obtain 25% of the total votes cast in the federal capital territory, Abuja, in addition to having 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 states of the federation.
To this end, Datti said since Tinubu was unable to get 25% in Abuja swearing-in him in will greatly undermine the country’s democracy.
Datti’s comment sparked controversy across the country as some supporters of Tinubu demanded his arrest.
Speaking on the matter, Soyinka, while appearing on Arise TV on Wednesday, condemned Datti’s comment.
He said it was unbecoming, stressing that he has never heard such blackmailing language.
He said, “I have never heard the kind of blackmailing language that were used by Mr Datti.
“That kind of attitude, that kind of do-or-die provocation is not what I think we have been all struggling for”.
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