- Soyinka accused the LP of hijacking the organised labour movement in the build-up to the 2023 election
- He also said that Obi and the Labour Party leadership were used by some ex Generals who were demanding for an interim government
Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka has stated that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, had an impressive and splendid outing during the the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
He, however, said that was not enough to earn him the presidency and land him in Aso Rock, noting that the former Anambra governor did not win the election.
The Nobel laureate made known while speaking at an event titled “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue” organised by Africa in the World.
The event event was held on Wednesday in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Soyinka noted that the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) knew that Obi did not win the election and is trying to force their lies on others.
While speaking at the event, Soyinka was asked to react to his comment against Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate, after the general election.
The Nobel laureate disclosed that he was armed with facts when he stormed a radio station in Ibadan in 1965.
He added that he was not relying on “third-hand information” about the result of the 1965 regional election.
Soyinka accused the LP of hijacking the organised labour movement in the build-up to the 2023 election.
He also said that Obi and the Labour Party leadership were used by some ex Generals who were demanding for an interim government.
He noted that Obi achieved “something remarkable” by breaking the monopoly of power established by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Soyinka said, “This recent election – two things happened first of all. One party took over the labour movement, which is not my favourite movement, and then it became a regional party.
“Whereas it was a marvellous breach into the established two camps. Peter Obi achieved something remarkable there, that he broke that mould. However, he did not win the election.
“I can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third not even second and the leadership knew it but they want to do what we call in Yoruba ‘gbajue’, that is a force of lies.
“They were going to send some of the hardliners, proud young people into the street to demonstrate.
“I’m also ready to be among such demonstrators but only on the banner of truth not on lies, and deceit.
“This party wanted the same thing (referring to 2011 post-election violence) to happen on the basis of a lie and we find this vice-presidential candidate on television boasting, insisting, threatening and trying to intimidate both the judiciary and the rest.
“What kind of government will result from that kind of conduct? In addition, they did not know this but they were being used.
“Before the election, there were certain clandestine forces, including some ex-generals, who were already calling for an interim government before the elections began.
“Some of them were known figures, including a proprietor of a university calling for an interim government before the election took place.”
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