Victor EzejaValentine Obienyem, the media adviser to Peter Obi has argued that the reaction of the renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, to a comment of the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, about the Labour Party is not a debate with the literary giant.
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Adichie had during a live interview with Arise TV countered Prof Soyinka’s description of the supporters of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi popularly known as Obidients, as “fascist” by their conduct.
Soyinka, in an interview with Channels Television, had accused the Obidients of fascism over their refusal to entertain criticism, tagging it as their “badge of honour.”
Soyinka had equally described the vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, as a fascist following an earlier interview where Datti said the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, should not be sworn in because according to him, Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirement to emerge as elected president in the poll.
Reacting to Soyinka’s tirade, Adichie said she strongly disagree with Soyinka, adding that “Fascism is a very strong word which doesn’t describe the Obidients.”
She said the word should instead be used to describe the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), during the elections, rather than Datti and the Obidients.
“I have a lot of love and respect for Prof Soyinka but I disagree very strongly with him on this issue. Fascist is a very strong word and I don’t see any reason why Dr Datti’s interview was termed that way.
“Fascist can be used for INEC because many Nigerians feel cheated and gagged; with all the violence that occurred during the elections, that is Fascist,” the award-winning Nigerian literary icon submitted during the Arise TV interview on Tuesday.
Ms Adichie’s comment on Soyinka’s statement has elicited reactions with some describing it as a debate.
Nollywood actor and comedian, Imeh Bishop Umoh, aka Okon Lagos, has said he would love to see a debate between Prof Soyinka and Adichie on Fascism and the just-concluded general elections.
However, for Obi’s media aide, what said Adichie in reaction to Soyinka’s comment is not a debate with the revered Nobel Laureate.
He said that as a well-trained child, Adichie would not agree to a debate with Soyinka, who is like a father.
Obienyem said Adichie’s reaction was like an honest contribution to the ongoing debate on issues challenging governance in Nigeria.
His words: “As a well-trained child, she would not, like most of us, agree to debate a Soyinka, who is like a father to all of us. In her own case, they enjoy extra epistolary fraternity.
“The foregoing reminds me of a youth at a meeting with his father. They were seated with others in a circular form. He said something his father saw as disagreeable. Infuriated, his father slapped him. Not knowing how to respond, the son slapped the next person to him. The ritual went round and ended on his father’s cheek.
“At last, not a debate, but an honest contribution to the ongoing debate in Nigeria: shall allow the forces of evil to continue tormenting this country? The judiciary is an essential part of this ongoing debate.”
Recall that Soyinka in reaction to comments trailing his criticism of the Obidients and Datti, offered to engage the LP vice presidential candidate or any representative of the party in a live debate on national TV on the issue of democracy. Datti, however, declined the offer saying he has much respect for the octogenarian and his global achievements.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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