Obidients Are Foolishly Playing Script Of Others – Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has taken a swipe at the Obidient Movement, a group of supporters of Peter Obi from the Labour Party, for their role in the recently concluded 2023 general election.

Speaking at the launch of his book titled “The Putin Files: Excursions Around The Ideology Of Pain,” Soyinka described the Obidients as fascists, as reported by Politics Nigeria.

During the event, Soyinka responded to a question from lawyer and poet Ogaga Ifowodo, who asked why he referred to the Obidients as fascists. The renowned author cited the 2020 EndSARS protest as an example of a movement driven by pure truth.

He praised the EndSARS protest as one of the most successful movements in the country and disclosed his support for it. Soyinka even addressed some protesters as he left Lagos for Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

Drawing a comparison between the EndSARS protest and the Obidient Movement, Soyinka argued that the Obidients were mobilizing youth to defend an untruth. He likened their actions to former president Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged incitement of violence during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) election controversy, which led to the killing of innocent corps members. Soyinka further claimed that even before the election, there were individuals who had plotted to steer the country towards an interim government.

Soyinka concluded by suggesting that some of those who thought they were being radical were merely following the agenda set by others. He characterized their actions as foolish and likened them to playing the script of external forces. It should be noted that the Obidients had previously criticized Soyinka in May after he labeled them as fascists.

This critique by Wole Soyinka, a prominent Nobel Laureate known for his social and political commentary, adds fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the Obidient Movement’s activities and their impact on the 2023 general election. The statements made by Soyinka are likely to generate further discussions and reactions within political circles and the public at large.