Te prominent Nigerian made his position known
during the interview with The Guardian
on March 29, Sunday.
“We’re talking about a very positive response
by the public in terms of determination to
register and vote but, you know, this has been
one of the most vicious, unprincipled, vulgar
and violent exercises I have ever witnessed.
“I just hope we won’t go down as being the
incorrigible giant of Africa”
Soyinka continued with recalling the 1993 polls:
“The stakes appear to be so high that all
scruples have been set aside and it’s very
distressing to compare this election with the
election of 1993, which was one of the most
orderly, civilised and resolute elections we ever
had. This one was like a no-holds-barred kind
of election, especially, frankly, from the
incumbency side. One shouldn’t be too
surprised anyway given the kind of people who
are manning the barricades for the incumbent candidate.”
The famous playwright lamented the
huge sums spent on the campaigns by the
parties.
“Most expensive, most prodigal, wasteful,
senseless, I mean really insensitive in
terms of what people live on in this
country.
“This was the real naira-dollar
extravaganza, spent on just subverting,
shall we say, the natural choices of people.
Just money instead of argument, instead of
position statements.
“And of course the sponsoring of violence
in various places, in addition to this
festive atmosphere in which every corner,
every pillar, every electric pole is adorned
with one candidate or the other, many of
them in poses which remind one of
Nollywood.”
Politically active Soyinka also disclosed
that he had been some time ago invited
by President Jonathan to discuss various
issues of national importance and
Jonathan’s possible defeat.
“It was difficult for me to decide from his
side how readily he might accept defeat.
He absolutely swore that if he lost he was
going back to [his home] Otuoke village. If
I take him literally, I think he will accept
the result, but I’ve learned never to trust
any politician from here to there, even if
they’re just coming out of communion. So I really don’t know.”
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