Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has rejected Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s challenge to an open debate.

It was reported that Soyinka challenged Datti to an open debate following attacks on him by ‘Obidients’ who were not happy with his reaction to Datti’s comments on the February 25 presidential election.

“Like many Nigerians we are bewildered by the late hour intervention of our respected Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka in issues around the flawed 2023 elections. Where was he all this while?

“One of those who should ordinarily and rightfully be honoured as the conscience of the nation, Prof. Soyinka is now criminalising dissent and infact weighing in on the side of fraud and injustice! We state therefore that the vice-presidential candidate of Labour Party, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, cannot take up Prof. Soyinka’s offer of a public debate, not out of cowardice, but for cultural and political reasons,” Head of Media Obi-Datti campaign team, Mr. Diran Onifade, said in a statement issued on Datti’s behalf.

According to him, culturally it is just not decent, their age and accomplishment gaps taken into account, for Datti to sit opposite the 88 year-old global icon and point out his folly to his face, even if the old man called for it.

“And politically there is no basis for such a challenge in that Prof. is not on any of the opposite ballots.

“If however he can use his influence to drag his preferred candidates, who resisted debates throughout the campaign, to the studio this second, Datti says he is more than willing to take them on,” the statement said. (Text, excluding headline: Daily Trust)

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