Politics: Chimamanda Adichie’s Last Laugh Over Wole Soyinka
Editorial Opinion By: Daily Tab24.
Nigeria’s recent presidential election had all the vibes it could muster, from celebrities choosing sides and getting deeply involved in the election to our literary gurus being on the opposite side of the battle. Professor Wole Soyinka massively supported President Amed Tinubu, while Chief Chimamanda Adichie backed Labour Party candidate Mr Peter Obi.
There was underlying tribal tint that never showed up, of course, the two literary gurus made sure they left it plain. President Bola Amed Tinubu is Wole Soyinka’s tribe’s man while Mr Peter Obi is Chimamanda’s tribe’s man. Conscious of igniting tribal war within the cyber space, they avoided trading direct words with each other.
Deep down, I was aware of the rift and how it was managed with the greatest civil decorum I have ever seen within Nigerian politics. Professor Wole Soyinka wrote about President Tinubu and convinced the electorates how he was the right candidate for Nigeria. On the other hand, Chimamanda wrote and convinced electorates that Mr Peter Obi was the best candidate. The two played major role; and their patriotism stood on the mountain top, bragging boldly.
It would have been on another level had it been Late Chinue Achebe, a conservative Igbo, who was believed to be the father of African literature, much far ahead of Professor Wole Soyinka whose Nobel laureate award was argued to had been politically influenced by former President Obasanjo. While I agree that Chinue Achebe was better, by virtue of Things Fall Apart, I personally disagree that the award was politically influenced.
Chimamanda was moderate. She approached the campaign with respect and cautiously engaged herself, knowing that politics is a strange field to her. She only spoke out, campaigned for Mr Peter Obi and urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity of electing Peter Obi for the betterment of the country.
In the end, Tinubu was elected President. The election was not adjudged free and fair. Evidences abound that the election was rigged against Peter Obi. It was largely believed that had the election followed the law, Peter Obi had triumphed. Technically, Chief Chimamanda Adichie pulled the people for Mr Peter Obi, but political thieves decided the mandate’s destination.
Some months after the election, Chimamanda appears to have had the last laugh. It could be well assumed that Chimamanda is more enlightened than Professor Wole Soyinka who chose President Tinubu over Peter Obi. It’s strange a celebrated author and professor, who is believed to know more than common Nigerians could not see what Nigerian youths saw. Going further, Professor Wole Soyinka should have succumbed to superior argument and reason Chimamanda Adichie had.
Nigeria has turned into something no one imagined. Inflation is on the highest level, corruption is embedded, and insecurity thrives while Nigerians protest against high cost of living. What Chimamanda Adichie saw sitting down, Wole Soyinke didn’t see it standing up. Nigeria has lost direction under Tinubu, which is the final nail on the coffin.
While Adichie deserves a rest, Soyinka should be on the streets righting the wrong he empowered. Chimamanda was right all along and next time, Nigerians will learn to listen to her and do everything possible to give her advice wings to fly.
Wole Soyinka owes Nigerians apology, and should be urged to retire because his judgment has destroyed Nigerians. While Chimamanda has the last laugh, there is actually no laugh to have. As a patriotic wealthy Nigerian, she may not be feeling the negative impact of President Tinubu’s administration, but there is no laugh when Nigerians are starving and dying.
