Famous Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie has reacted to labeling of supporters of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as fascists by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
In an interview with Channels Television, Soyinka had accused Obi’s supporters, referred to as OBIdients of fascism over their refusal to entertain criticism, tagging it as their “badge of honour”.
In the interview, Soyinka had also described the LP vice presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, as a fascist following an earlier interview where the politician said that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be sworn in.
“Whoever swears in Tinubu has ended democracy in Nigeria. Mr President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN (Chief Justice of Nigeria), your lordship, do not partake in unconstitutionality”, Baba-Ahmed had advocated.
While reacting to Soyinka’s comments, the Half of a Yellow Sun writer said she strongly disagreed with Soyinka, saying that the “word is a very strong word which doesn’t describe the OBIdients”.
She featured as a guest on Arise TV’s Politics in Nigeria.
Adichie said the word should instead be used for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), rather than Baba-Ahmed and the OBIdients.
“I have a lot of love and respect for Prof. Soyinka but I disagree very strongly with him on this issue. Fascist is a very strong word and I don’t see any reason why Dr Datti’s interview was termed that way”, the multiple award winning Nigerian-born novelist said.
“Fascist can be used for INEC because many Nigerians feel cheated and gagged; with all the violence that occurred during the elections, that is fascist”.
She added that the confusion over the recent election is due to INEC‘s “deliberate non-transmission of results in real-time as stated in its guidelines”.
She said President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had the chance to become the hero of Nigeria and Africa if only they delivered a transparent presidential poll.
