Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, recently visited Nigeria’s only Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, in what he described as an enriching visit.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the two had a useful discussion during the visit, according to a tweet from Obi.
He said: “Today 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 had a very useful and enriching discussion about his aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria, and he shared a lot with me about his dream for a greater, and more inclusive Nigeria.
“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.
This visit marks a significant reconciliation between the two after Obi’s supporters, known as Obidients, criticised Soyinka for his recent remarks about Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
Soyinka had described Baba-Ahmed’s statements, which contained “fascistic language,” as a do-or-die attitude and provocation that went against democratic values.
Baba-Ahmed had stated in an interview with Channels TV that Nigeria had no president-elect, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ‘winner’ of the election.
He also said that Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate had not met the requirements of the law.
Baba-Ahmed had further stated that the Supreme Court would have to rule in favour of the Labour Party, even if the decision did not go in their favour.
Obidients disparaged Soyinka on social media and some mainstream media following his remarks.
