Literary scholar and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has challenged the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Sen. Datti-Baba Ahmed to a one-on-one debate over Nigeria’s democracy.
This comes after the controversial interview Datti-Ahmed had on Channels Television where he said “whoever swears in Mr. Tinubu” has “ended Democracy” .
Soyinka in a statement titled “Fascism on Course”, said Datti was trying to dictate to the supreme arbiter of the nation and that his comments were unbecoming and fascist.
“Nearly the totality of Datti’s comment in the interview was unbecoming. It was like trying to dictate to the supreme arbiter of the nation, and whatever you think of the supreme court, it is an institution we all refer to sooner or later.
“But Datti kept saying, in his wisdom, that the supreme court must agree with me. That is what is known as fascistic language and it is not acceptable, ” he said.
Professor Soyinka then offered to engage Sen. Datti-Baba Ahmed in a one-on-one television discussion, with the same interviewer of the previous interview to moderate.
“If Channels feels up to it, I offer myself willing to engage Mr. Datti – or any nominee of his – on its platform on this very bone of contention – one-on-one – without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer.
He also condemned the fine against Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
“May I cease this opportunity, by the way, to condemn the sanctions imposed on CHANNELS Television which anchored the performance of the LP candidate.”
