The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi paid a courtesy visit to Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka which he described as enriching, noting that he had a useful discussion with the literary giant.
Obi, in a post on his official Twitter handle on Sunday averred;
“Today I visited one of Nigeria’s most revered figures and an international literary icon Prof Wole Soyinka,” Obi said.
“Prof Soyinka has been my father whom I hold in very esteem for what he has achieved and stands for in the struggle for a better Nigeria.
“His reputation as a fighter for justice and equity in our society has been legendary and we will NEVER ignore them.
“I had a very useful and enriching discussion about his aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria, and he shared a lot with me about his dream for a greater, and more inclusive Nigeria.
“I reminded the Nobel laureate of the huge price he paid just before the outbreak of civil war, fighting for the cause of the Igbos
“I cherish this Sunday visit which was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the obidient family.”
The development comes days after Soyinka came under criticism on social media by the supporters base of the LP candidate, popularly known as” Obidients”.
Soyinka had in a statement said Obidients wear their refusal to “accept constructive criticism as a badge of honour”, while addressing criticism he received from supporters of the LP.
On April 5, Soyinka faulted the remarks by Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the LP, saying they contained “fascistic language”.
Baba-Ahmed had said the country has no president-elect despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
The LP vice-presidential candidate said Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate “has not met requirements of the law”.
The social media has been rife with uncomplimentary remarks by followers of Obi, against Soyinka much to the disdain of a large majority of Nigerians, including Obidients, which may have prompted the LP helmsman to seek out the Prof for peace.
