I’ve lost respect for Soyinka, he’s now an errand boy for criminal politicians – Charly Boy
Veteran singer and social activist, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy has criticised nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, over his statement condemning the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, and his subsequent comment attacking supporters of the Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Soyinka addressed as “fascistic”, Baba-Ahmed’s utterance during an interview, that swearing in a candidate who was declared president-elect without meeting constitutional requirement, will end democracy.
He, however, came under heavy fire from Obi’s supporters known as Obidients, for making use of the term ‘fascism’ and the award-winning writer responded by saying that their refusal to take criticism proves his earlier position.
“A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment.
What is at stake, ultimately is – Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive,” he said in part.
Reacting, to his statement, Charly Boy he respected Soyinka almost as much as his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
He said that all that is lost now because the revered poet has reduced himself to being an errand boy for corrup politicians.
The singer wrote; “The kin respect I had for dis man, was almost the kind of respect I had for my stainless father, The Socrates of the Supreme Court.
It has finally dawned on me that Soyinka can never be the man Chinua Achebe was. Look at a man many Nigerians put on such high pedestal reducing himself to a boyiboyi for criminal politicians.
What a f..king big shame”
