Professor Wole Soyinka stated that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi essentially gave victory to President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. Atiku and Obi ran under different parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, respectively.
Soyinka dismissed claims from opposition supporters that Tinubu did not win. He has been countering this narrative, which has gained international attention.
In a statement from South Africa, Soyinka insisted that Atiku and Obi propelled Tinubu to victory. He criticized the view of the election as an โadversarial thriller.โ
Soyinka said the ballot tally reflected the consequences of a party splitting close to an election. He called it a โFeast of Voluntary Donation of the spoils of war.โ
The literary icon also mentioned that the final word belongs to the Supreme Court. He emphasized that politicians should take responsibility for their democratic choices.
Editorial
The recent comments by Wole Soyinka about the 2023 presidential election are stirring the pot in Nigerian politics. His bold claim is that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi essentially gifted the election to President Bola Tinubu.
Soyinkaโs comments raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Is the election truly a reflection of the peopleโs will, or does political manoeuvring manipulate it?
The role of the Supreme Court in confirming election results is crucial. How much influence does the court have in shaping the political landscape?
Soyinkaโs focus on politicians taking responsibility is noteworthy. But how can voters hold politicians accountable for their actions and choices?
Did You Know?
- Wole Soyinka is a Nobel Laureate in Literature, the first African honoured in that category.
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are two of the major political parties in Nigeria.
- The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest in the country and has the final say on legal and constitutional matters.
- Bola Tinubu, the current President of Nigeria, previously served as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
- Atiku Abubakar has run for the presidency of Nigeria multiple times but has never won.
