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.”
