Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, Sunday, lashed out angrily at
the patron-shopping strategy of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC,
suggesting that the strategy lacked moral focus, and had the feel of political
prostitution.
In a short email message, the professor of literature said
he was triggered by media reports indicating that an “APC-led group …has been
paying courtesy visits to former Heads of States,” prompting him to ask if the
party had thought it through what disaster this would mean for the nation.
Mr. Soyinka said the media report that stirred him to
respond to the APC had these words: “Tinubu added that the APC had resolved to
rescue Nigeria, appealing to Obasanjo to lead the mission. We’re resolved and
determined to rescue Nigeria. We want you as navigator”.
He then asked if the APC was truly comfortable that this
represented its core principles.
“Would it be correct to state that their purpose is captured
in the following Mission Statement?” he queried, suggesting that an impending
political disaster loomed before the nation, with grave humanitarian
consequence.
“If this attribution is correct, may I urge you, as an
urgent public service, to advise families to begin the stockpiling of
life-belts for the guaranteed crash.
“Don’t forget to alert the coastguards – Ecowas, AU, UNO etc
etc – to be on the alert for possible salvage operations.”
Mr. Soyinka then hinted at the moral opportunism of the
patron-shopping strategy by asking: “By the way, If General Sani Abacha were
alive today, would he also have been on
the ship’s complement? As Captain perhaps?”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana also has
this to say;
“I understand that one of the retired generals is going to
become the chair of the Board of Trustees of the APC! This is a case of
alienation from the people. How can APC leaders believe that Nigerians want
Generals Obasanjo and Babangida to be rehabilitated after destroying the
country?
“The duo ruled for 20 years and ruined the country in the
process. General Obasanjo has just confessed that he has been installing
incompetent leadership since 1979. And he is not ashamed to make that
provocative disclosure. Has he offered public apology for his maxima culpa
before wooing him?
“The situation is not different in a number of states and
local council areas where the new PDP is busy taking over all the structures of
the APC. Since the APC is positioning itself to retain the status quo it cannot
become a truly progressive party.”
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