Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has asserted that his critics, particularly supporters of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, will not deter him from speaking truth to power.
In May 2023, Wole Soyinka faced backlash on social media for denouncing remarks made by LP’s vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed as “fascistic language.”
Despite being targeted by Obi’s supporters, known as ‘Obidents’, during the lead-up to the 2023 elections, Soyinka remains resolute in his commitment to presenting facts in his interventions.
In a recent interview with Noble Nigeria, Soyinka reflected on his experience with online trolls and vowed not to be silenced, suggesting that those who expect him to stay quiet should reconsider.
“Nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks he can stop me from telling the truth as I see it should get his or her head examined,” Soyinka said.
On the Obidient movement’s attack on his personality, he said, “Again, it has to do with education. I feel disgusted especially when facts are being ‘manufactured’. I read some of these things and I was disgusted. There is no other word for it, I really was disgusted. And I know it was orchestrated. The Internet has become so promiscuous and I know there is a relay mechanism that is triggered into action by those who control the trolls of the Internet.
So, I just went about my business because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks he can stop me from telling the truth as I see it should get his or her head examined, it is as elementary as that. But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, and attitude in the youth. And my mind went to the expression, ‘They don’t know what they’re doing.’
The renowned author cautioned that if the actions of trolls are left unchecked, those encouraging them may face consequences in the future.
He said, “Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. These very trolls, these foot soldiers who they have trained in that aspect, one of these days, they will turn on them and teach them a lesson.”
“But it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-texture society, different religions, different ethnic groups, different world views and who actually want to preside over sub-groups as one, it means that have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such entity and that’s it,” Soyinka added.
