Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has expressed strong doubts about the suitability of Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to lead Nigeria. In an interview with Noble Eyisi on Thursday, Soyinka stated that Obi’s conduct and the behavior he allegedly encouraged among his followers during the 2023 presidential election are clear indicators of his unfitness for the presidency.
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential election, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Soyinka expressed his hope that Obi would not run for the presidency again in the 2027 election.
"I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader, if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers. I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces,” Soyinka said.
Soyinka criticized dishonest political leaders for encouraging divisive actions and warned that such behavior could eventually backfire on them. "One of these days, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson,” he added.
He also commented on the negative influence of internet trolls and the spread of misinformation, which he believes are orchestrated by certain political figures. "It has to do with education. I didn’t read all these insults from Obidients but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were being manufactured,” Soyinka noted.
Soyinka emphasized his commitment to speaking the truth and criticized those who encourage negative behavior among the youth. He expressed sadness over the phenomenon, especially considering Nigeria's diverse society. "Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind," he warned, highlighting the potential consequences of fostering division.
In his view, leaders who encourage such attitudes are demonstrating their incompetence to lead a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and diverse nation like Nigeria. "It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity,” Soyinka concluded.
