…Says It Would Be Culturally Disrespectful To Sit Face To Face With 88-year-old Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, And Point Out His Mistakes.

The Vice-Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, has responded to Prof Wole Soyinka’s challenge to him for an open debate on Nigeria’s recent election and inauguration plans.

Datti said on Saturday that he could not debate with an 88-year-old Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, not out of cowardice but because of cultural respect.

The statement containing Datti’s response reads: “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 in fact weighing in on the side of fraud and injustice.

“We state therefore that the vice-presidential candidate of the 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.”

It would be recalled that after Datti warned of likely consequences if the President elect, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, is sworn in before the conclusion of the pending presidential election petitions in court, Soyinka described Datti Baba-Ahmed’s remark as “fascist.”

In a statement, titled “Fascism On Course”, Soyinka challenged the LP’s VP candidate to a public debate.

Responding, Datti wondered why it took Soyinka so long to speak out on the ugly details of Nigeria’s 2023 Elections? He also argued that it would be culturally disrespectful to sit face to face with the literary icon and point out to his face his errors.