By Olu Fasan
As a creative writing scholar at
Oxford University, I have been reviewing the legendary literature Nobel
laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s latest book Chronicles from the land of the happiest people on earth.
Reading the book, a political fiction, I’m enthralled by its linguistic and
literary quality. Imagine my bafflement, therefore, when Professor Soyinka
recently used the word “fascistic” to describe Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed,
vice-presidential candidate of Labour Party in February’s presidential
election.
What drew Professor Soyinka’s
ire was Dr Baba-Ahmed’s controversial interview on Channels TV. “Whoever swears
in Mr Tinubu has ended democracy in Nigeria,” he said, adding: “Mr President,
do not hold that inauguration. CJN (Chief Justice of Nigeria), your lordship,
do not partake in unconstitutionality.” Baba-Ahmed argued that Bola Tinubu “has
not met the requirements of the law”, having failed to secure 25 per cent of
the votes cast in Abuja.