■ Bombs Obasanjo
Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja
Noble laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka yesterday said it was time the old breeds left the political stage.He said the country cannot continue to recycle old corrupt and geriatrics. He spoke at a Dinner and Award ceremony of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Abuja.
“The old corrupt and old geriatrics should leave the stage now,” he roared.
Although Soyinka believes that young people should take over the political stage, he however said such revolution should not be led by somebody like former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo has crossed the red line”, he declared.
He described the former president as “one of the greatest hypocrites Nigeria has ever produced,” saying that he will on July 3 at Freedom Park, Lagos unveil Obasanjo’s atrocities. He said he documented the atrocities because Nigerians had the tendency to forget easily.
On why he criticises former military head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, he said he had nothing personal against him. He said his grouse against the late military leader was that he plundered the resources of the country, stressing that Abacha’s loot is still being recovered till date.
He said that when he sees a monument in honour of such person he gets upset wondering how a government that said it is fighting corruption would leave such monuments.
On the issue of his American Green Card, Soyinka clarified that he returned it and asked for a regular visa because President Donald Trump was insulting Nigeria and Africa. He said it was not the first time he would take such step against a country.
On some developments in Nigeria, the Noble Laureate accused government of hiding under “hate speech and fake news” to clampdown on innocent people.