Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, has knocked Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s criticism of LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stating that while he could retaliate with damaging remarks, he chose not to stoop to that level.
Baba-Ahmed emphasized that intellect does not grant Soyinka the authority to belittle others. Soyinka had previously asserted that Obi’s failure to curb his supporters’ online attacks on dissenting voices indicated his unsuitability to lead Nigeria.
The renowned author additionally accused Obi of endorsing online assaults by his supporters dubbed ‘Obidients’.
However, in his rebuttal aired on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed dismissed Soyinka’s remarks as a mere attempt to divert attention, asserting his refusal to engage in a verbal duel with him.
“The learned elder statesman, Prof Wole Soyinka is scared in advance about what good Peter Obi will bring to Nigeria. He’s scared in advance that the end is still looking very likely for his principal, for bad governance.
“What Wole Soyinka is doing now is an attempted distraction, which I beg you excuse me from joining issues with Wole Soyinka, please.
“You and I have much better things to do. For all I know, he could continue to throw punches at my principal, at me, as small as I am. If he continues to do that, all I can do is to grieve in my heart and continue to pray for him.
“You see, intellect doesn’t give you the right to insult anybody. I remember this Soyinka insulting late General Abacha, insulting him to the core that he was daft. Nothing gives him the right to do that. Abacha was not an academic. He was a soldier for God’s sake. And a good soldier in his own way in his own right.
“I beg you, let’s push Soyinka and his likes aside; we have better things to talk about.
“Nobel Laureates are loved and cherished by their people. Soyinka keeps getting insulted, and it is his responsibility to maintain his dignity and respect, not Peter Obi’s.
“I could say a few things to Wole Soyinka that could destroy him for good, but I wouldn’t say that.”
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