Wole Soyinka Denies Supporting Tinubu for Presidency

Nobel laureate and human rights advocate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has denied supporting former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential ambition in the 2023 general election.

In a Facebook post, which went viral last year, the playwright was rumoured to have allegedly endorsed Tinubu for the seat of the presidency in the 2023 elections. The post on his timeline said;

“I have never involved myself in politics or campaign for any politician but in 2023 I will involve in politics and campaign for longtime friend in 1993 NADECO struggle. Nobel laurel, Professor Wole Soyinka.”

The Post had on Monday, January 10, 2022 received mass publicity again on social media after Tinubu ‘categorically’ declared his intentions to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election.

Reacting to the rumours, Soyinka termed people circulating the post as ‘illiterates’ and ‘interlopers’ who had cultivated the acts of peddling rumours and falsehood. He further condemned the treacherous act which according to him was a trespass on identity.  

“Here we go again. The same boring, illiterate public interlopers who lack the courage of their conviction and must steal the identities of their betters. One can only hope that the public has learnt to identify Fake News and join in the urgent task of exposing and disgracing these despicable touts,” the writer said.

Commenting further, the Nigerian playwright decried pitching tents with any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 election.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not even thought 2023, much less inserted candidates into coveted positions. The signature of this latest moron is familiar — he or she does not even know the difference between ‘Laureate and Laurel,’ Soyinka said.

“This is an ancient forgery being recycled for the umpteenth time. Those who pass it round do themselves and their recipients a disservice. Find something worthwhile to occupy your time.’’

It will be recalled that Soyinka in a statement last year denied eulogizing the APC Chieftain, following a report that quoted him as saying Tinubu had “nurtured many renowned national successors.” The erudite scholar had swiftly refuted the entire report, saying he had nothing to do with the ‘concocted’ publication.

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, dramatist, poet, and novelist versatile in the English language. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature which made him the first sub-Saharan African and first Nigerian to receive the prestigious award.

Source

Pulse NG