Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has accused Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, of controlling online trolls known as ‘Obidients’ and misrepresenting the nature of their private discussions.
In a recent statement, Soyinka detailed his observations and interactions with Obi during a meeting that was purportedly aimed at reconciliation.
Soyinka recounted his experience, saying, “When he first came to visit me, I watched his actions and body language closely. He seemed very conciliatory. At one point, he made a statement like ‘Oh don’t worry. You don’t have anything to worry about these people,’ referring to the ‘Obidients’. Then, he took out his phone and typed a message. I observed him closely but didn’t say anything at the time.”
He continued, “After that meeting, Obi’s public statement about our discussion was a stark contrast to what actually transpired. It was a misrepresentation, and I had to issue a statement clarifying that the language he attributed to me was never used.”
Soyinka expressed his disappointment in Obi’s narrative, emphasizing that it deviated significantly from the truth. “When someone is incapable of being completely honest during a supposed reconciliatory meeting, it raises concerns. At a later event in Stellenbosch, I reiterated my stance that Peter did not win the election, which seemed to provoke the ‘Obidients’ further.”
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The literary icon urged the public to verify his account with witnesses present at the meeting, asserting that Obi’s version did not reflect the actual conversation. “There were witnesses at the meeting. He came with two people, and I had one person from my side. Ask them! The statement he put out was not a reflection of what went on at that meeting, which I very reluctantly attended,” Soyinka concluded.
