Prolific writer, poet, and playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka have aired his opinion concerning the 2023 general elections and the rhetoric of political actors.
Award-winning writer, who appeared on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Roadmap 2023, described the elections as “not exactly the most edifying exercise that we’ve been through.”
The Nobel laureate explained that he was out of the country for some months but have a deep insight into the event that took hold while he was away.
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“On arriving, I came in for the World Poetry Day, and immediately, I was bombarded by the most horrendous narratives both pre and after the elections,” he said.
“Since then, I’ve also read columns; I’ve seen Nigerian papers for the first time in months and I didn’t like what I read at all.
“My trust has broken down completely and even the minimum restraint that we’ve learned to expect from seasoned politicians has been jettisoned completely.”
Wole Soyinka noted that he preferred not to make comments on the electoral process as he was away, though he says it does not mean he was ignorant of what was happening on the home front.
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In his estimation, Soyinka mentioned that the nation was moving towards a situation, which he says was not planned, but one that happened fortuitously where the existing mold was going to be broken.
“And the signs were there that there would be die-hard opposition to the breaking of that mold,” he said.
“Elections should be keenly contested. But I still believe very much in what I call the Fashola Dictum.”
Soyinka quoted former Governor Babatunde Fashola, now Minister of Works and Housing, as once saying elections should be like festivals.
“They should be yet another aspect of the festive spirit of humanity – and this was anything but festive,” he said.
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