Renowned Nigerian playwright and professor, Wole Soyinka, has asserted that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi willingly contributed to President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. Soyinka made these comments, suggesting a different perspective on the election results, during a statement released from Stellenbosch, South Africa, on Saturday.
Soyinka argued that Atiku and Obi, both of whom contested the election separately under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), respectively, effectively propelled Tinubu to victory. This perspective contradicts the notion that Tinubu, who ran under the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not win the election, a view that has gained traction internationally.
The literary icon emphasized that the election results were not indicative of a traditional adversarial contest but rather represented a unique situation. He pointed out that when a political party splits, particularly so close to an election, it can lead to a situation where victory is voluntarily contributed to a single candidate.
Soyinka also alluded to a notorious interview, likely referring to an interview with Datti Ahmed, which he described as menacing, intimidating, and unambiguous, hinting at the possibility of a change in the political landscape.
In essence, Soyinka’s remarks challenge the conventional interpretation of the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, suggesting that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi’s separate candidacies played a role in Bola Tinubu’s victory. This perspective offers a different angle on the election results and the dynamics of Nigerian politics.
