Nigerian playwright and novelist, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says Peter Obi is “unfit” to lead Nigeria.
Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election and came third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the winner, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an interview with Noble Eyisi, a digital creator, Professor Soyinka said that he hopes that the former Anambra governor does not jostle for seat of president in the 2027 election.
The nobel laureate alleged that Obi has encouraged the malevolence targeted at him from his supporters — who are referred to as ‘Obidients’.
“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,” Soyinka said.
“I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces.”
Soyinka also said that dishonest political leaders are encouraging the “divisive actions of the group”.
“But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, that kind of attitude in the youth.
“And my mind went to the expression: ‘They don’t know what they’re doing’. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.
“One of these days, they would be astonished, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.
“And so, my attitude was very blasé but it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-textured (society) — different religions, different ethnic groups, different worldviews — who actually want to preside over such a group as one.
“It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity.”