Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate has responded to recent challenge thrown to him by the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, for a one-on-one debate with him.
Soyinka in a statement last Friday, titled “FASCISM ON COURSE” had called out supporters of the Labour Party, popularly known as OBIdients over cyber attack on his personality and challenged Mr Baba-Ahmed, to a live debate over the latter’s view against the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, by May 29.
Responding, Peter Obi’s running mate through Obi-Datti Media Office on Saturday, said he would not debate the Nobel laureate “not out of cowardice, but for cultural and political reasons.”
The statement added since Soyinka was not on any opposition ballot during the election, he would only willing to adhere to the Nobel prize Laurette’s request for debate if he (Soyinka) can use his influence to “drag” the President-elect and candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, into the studio.
Full statement below:
DATTI BABA-AHMED WILL NOT DEBATE PROF. SOYINKA. Like many Nigerians we are bewildered by the late hour intervention of our respected Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka in issues around the flawed 2023 elections.
Where was he all this while? One of those who should ordinarily and rightfully be honoured as the conscience of the nation, Prof. Soyinka is now criminalising dissent and infact weighing in on the side of fraud and injustice! We state therefore that the vice-presidential candidate of Labour Party, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed cannot take up Prof. Soyinka’s offer of a public debate, not out of cowardice, but for cultural and political reasons.
Culturally it’s just not decent, their age and accomplishment gaps taken into account, for Datti to sit opposite the 88 year-old global icon and point out his folly to his face, even if the old man called for it. And politically there is no basis for such a challenge in that Prof. is not on any of the opposite ballots.
If however he can use his influence to drag his preferred candidates, who resisted debates throughout the campaign, to the studio this second, Datti says he is more than willing to take them on. Signed: Obi-Datti Media Office.
