What Soyinka said on Channels TV about GEJ, OBJ, President Buhari and pro-Biafrans

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says the recent discoveries of the massive looting perpetrated by the last administration has vindicated his ‘reluctant’ support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last general elections.

Soyinka also stated that Nigeria would not have survived four more years of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s rule.

During a programme titled, ‘Channels Book Club’ on Channels Television on Tuesday night, Soyinka said he used to have a negative impression of President Buhari.

The Nobel Laureate however, said he was convinced that Buhari had indeed changed into a democrat.

“We were left with two credible contestants in terms of catchment area for the nation. We had reached, in my view, the bottom. I became convinced that if this country underwent four more years under President Jonathan, the country would run aground completely. I looked at the record and said this cannot go on, this has to stop.

“Then I looked at this man who had contested elections three times before and said he would not contest anymore and then decided to throw his hat in the ring. I talked to people and I said do you know what you’re doing?

“And after weighing all the options, I said let’s try a new one. And since in electoral terms, he was the one, I guardedly, with reservations, announced that no, not a continuation under Jonathan.

“And so very reluctantly, I want this on record, because I made it quite clear, I weighed the two of them and I said this nation stands a better chance under Buhari. And what has been coming out now? Look at all that has been coming out? Look at the figures (loot) which virtually hammer one into the ground just the sheer enormity of the robbery of this nation that is getting exposed progressively. It shows that we did not make a bad choice.”

Furthermore, Soyinka was asked if he was satisfied with the performance of Buhari in his first six months in office. He answered, saying: “Not totally but Buhari has proven that there is such a thing as a born again democrat.”

When asked to weigh-in on the pro-Biafra protests, Soyinka echoed the sentiments of many, which is that the federal government should dialogue with them, to ascertain their grouse.

“So, let us sit down, let us talk once again about restructuring the nation in a way that no one will want to leave. The agitations, for me, are not surprising. It was expected that it would happen sooner or later.

“So, I am referring to a genuine and authentic National Conference. Not like the one that former President Olusegun Obasanjo called which was meant to try to perpetuate himself in office.

“The one under Jonathan was extensive; it covered lots and lots of ground. It proposed some far-reaching changes, not far-reaching for me, but far-reaching. It is about time we went back to efforts like that; genuine ones like that.”

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail