Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has stated that the Labour Party (LP) knew its candidate in the February 25 presidential poll, Peter Obi, did not win.
The literary giant accused the LP leadership of trying to force “a lie” on Nigerians, especially youths, that Obi won the election.
The Cable reports that he spoke at an event titled: “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue”.
Accusing the LP of taking over the organised Labour movement in the build-up to the election, 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).
He 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 force of lies.”
Soyinka also alleged that the LP leadership attempted to mobilise young people to protest against the election’s outcome on the “banner of lies and deceit”.
Soyinka further alleged that the LP wanted post-election violence based on a lie, adding that its vice presidential candidate went on television boasting, insisting, threatening and trying to intimidate the judiciary and the rest.
