Soyinka Faults Peter Obi’s Claim, Fires Fresh Shot At Obidients
Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, says he did not discuss reconciliation with Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi during their meeting on Sunday.
Obi had released photos from his visit to Soyinka, giving the impression that the visit was to appease his supporters who had insulted the literary giant last month.
The politician’s supporters, dubbed Obidients, had used foul language on the internationally renowned author during an election interview.
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Soyinka stated in the interview that he warned Obi that if he lost the presidential election, it would be due to his supporters.
Soyinka had fired back at Obidients and challenged Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi’s running mate, amid a barrage of criticisms and caustic remarks, to which a spokesman for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign responded by dismissing Soyinka as an old man.
On Sunday, however, Obi stated that he attempted to reconcile the professor with his followers, whom he referred to as the Obidient family.
“Today (Sunday) I visited one of Nigeria’s most revered figures and an international literary icon, Prof Wole Soyinka. Prof Soyinka has been my father whom I hold in very esteem for what he has achieved and stands for in the struggle for a better Nigeria. His reputation as a fighter for justice and equity in our society has been legendary and we will never ignore them.
“I reminded the Nobel laureate of the huge price he paid just before the outbreak of civil war, fighting for the cause of the Igbos. I cherish this Sunday visit which was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the obidient family,” Obi had said.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Soyinka stated that reconciliation was never discussed during his meeting with Obi.
“Before it gains traction and takes on a life of its own, I wish to state unequivocally that the word ‘Reconciliation,’ which was inserted into some reports of Peter Obi’s visit to me yesterday, Sunday, May 7, is a most inappropriate, and diversionary invocation,” he said.
“Let me clarify: I am familiar with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate. I can identify with him. I am familiar with and relate to the Labour Party, on whose platform he ran for office. There are simply no disagreements between those two entities and myself.
“However, I am unfamiliar with and unable to relate to the ‘Obidient’ or ‘Obidient Family.” In a similar vein, any notion of Reconciliation, or even relationships – positive, negative, or indifferent – with such a spectral emanation is simply grasping at empty air.
“During that meeting, which was attended by only two other people, the word ‘Reconciliation’ was never mentioned, neither in itself nor in any other form.” It just didn’t happen. In contrast, there were expressions of “burden of leadership,” “responsibility,” “apology,” “pleading,” “formal dissociation from the untenable,” and “tragic ascendancy of ethnic cleavage,” especially in such ironic, untenable circumstances. The discussions were candid and inventive. The concept of reconciliation was clearly marked as N/A – None Applicable. It was never brought up.
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