According to Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, a former Labour Party VP candidate, Prof Wole Soyinka’s exceptional intellectual abilities do not justify condescending behavior towards others, as respect and civility are essential in public discourse.
Yusuf Baba-Ahmed’s response was prompted by Prof Wole Soyinka’s recent assertion that Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, lacks the requisite qualities to effectively lead the nation.
In a televised interview with Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed broke his silence on the matter, presenting a forceful rebuttal to Soyinka’s assertions and championing Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions.
Prof Wole Soyinka had previously criticized Peter Obi for failing to rein in his online supporters, who were attacking those with differing opinions, suggesting that this lack of control raised questions about Obi’s ability to lead a diverse and complex nation like Nigeria.
Prof Wole Soyinka further alleged that Peter Obi had tacitly endorsed the online harassment of himself and others who held dissenting views, by failing to rein in his enthusiastic supporters, known as ‘Obidients’.
However, Baba-Ahmed said what Soyinka was doing was an attempted distraction, adding that he would not join issues with him.
Baba-Ahmed said that he could say a few things to Soyinka that could destroy him for good but he wouldn’t say that.
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He said, “You see, intellect doesn’t give you the right to insult anybody. I remember this Soyinka insulting late General Abacha, insulting him to the core that he was daft.
“Nothing gives him the right to do that. Abacha was not an academic. He was a soldier for God’s sake. And a good soldier in his own way in his own right.
“I beg you, let’s push Soyinka and his likes aside; we have better things to talk about. Nobel Laureates are loved and cherished by their people. Soyinka keeps getting insulted, and it is his responsibility to maintain his dignity and respect, not Peter Obi’s.
He alluded to having information that could have been used to irreparably harm Wole Soyinka’s standing, but chose to keep it to himself, exercising discretion.