By Temidayo Akinsuyi
The Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday says it is the people of Nigeria and not Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka that will determine who is the best man to lead the country.
The party was responding to an interview granted by Soyinka where he urged Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections not to run for president in 2027 for the sake of the nation.
Describing Obi as someone who is unfit to lead, Soyinka had claimed that Obi asked his followers known as Obidients to attack him and others with opposing views online in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
However, speaking with TheScrutinyNG, Yunusa Tanko who is the Chief Spokesperson of Obi-Datti and Director of the Media, Labour Party (LP), says while Soyinka is entitled to his opinion, he should allow Nigerians decide whether Obi is qualified to lead or not.
“Inasmuch as I don’t want to engage the revered professor Wole Soyinka, I think that particular statement from him was poorly managed. He is entitled to his opinion but it is the people of Nigeria that will decide whether Obi is fit or unfit to lead the country”.
“It is Nigerians, especially the teeming youths of this country that will decide who is the best to lead them. We have been saddled with a lot of responsibility of enthroning good governance in Nigeria”.
“I have led a protest that Prof. Wole Soyinka was right behind us. At that time, we are protesting on the need for the respect of our constitution under the Save Nigeria Group. I led the particular demonstration and Prof. Soyinka stood a very hard stance against the government”.
“Here we are today, Nigerians are wallowing in abject poverty, economic hardship and can barely survive. However, Professor Soyinka has not issued any statement concerning that. I think he has a right to his opinion but he should know that it is Nigerians who will determine the best person to lead them”.