Victor Ezeja
Vice Presidential Campaign of the Labour Party, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed will be ready to accept the challenge by Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, to have a one-on-one debate on Channels TV regarding the nation’s democracy.
Soyinka had in a statement titled “Fascism on Course,” released on Friday, challenged Baba-Ahmed to a debate saying, “If Channels feels up to it, I offer myself willing to engage Mr Datti – or any nominee of his – on its platform on this very bone of contention – one-on-one – without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer.”
Soyinka’s challenge followed criticisms trailing his condemnation of Baba-Ahmed’s recent comment on Channels TV Politics Today programme where he said that the Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should not be sworn-in because he did not meet the constitutional requirements.
Baba-Ahmed argued that going ahead to swear in Tinubu as president is akin to ending democracy in Nigeria.
Soyinka described the LP Vice presidential candidate’s comment and the general conduct of the ‘Obidents’ since the election was concluded as amounting to “Fascism.”
He further described it as unbecoming, unbearable, adding that it was a gladiatorial challenge directed at the judiciary and by implication the rest of the polity.
In his latest reaction, the Nobel Laureate, said the censures he has been receiving from the Obidents, (supporters of the LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi) is evident that the seeds of Fascism has matured in the country’s system.
Reacting to Soyinka’s challenge to a debate, the spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Prof Chris Nwakobia, who appeared on Arise News TV on Saturday, said that Baba-Ahmed has accepted the challenge and is looking forward to square it off with the Nobel Laureate.
Nwakobia, who is also the convener, Country First Movement, said: “Oh yes, he will and effectively so. The least of the Obidients can take up that debate and do it profoundly.
“I know Prof Wole Soyinka, I know he
will not go for that debate because the point is that history is replete with facts and figures.”
The spokesperson said that Soyinka would not dare come out for the debate insisting that the Nobel Laureate goofed by alllegedly endorsing the outcome of the election, albeit indirectly.
Nwakobia vigorously defended the said comment of Baba-Ahmed against the swearing in of Tinubu on May 29.
Recalling Soyinka’s past history of political activism, Nwakobia said that he and many Nigerians have great respect for the Nobel Laureate and see him a mentor.
“Do you know that some of us see him as our mentor because he understands the fact that disobedience upon an unjust law is indeed the greatest respect for law.
“In 1965 or so with a gun he invaded a radio station and refused the announcement of Akintola as the winner of an election. History is such a beautiful spectacle and I implore my egbon and the esteemed laureate to oblige the young people who are saying that on the mandate given to Peter Obi to stand.”
“When those who are merchants in electoral larceny took their mandate with hot coal they cant close their hands because we are going to take it in the court.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
