The unending feud between Nobel Laurette, Prof Wole Soyinka and former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hit another crescendo as the former described the latter as a liar, somebody who should not be taking seriously. He said he has no respect for him.
Soyinka said this yesterday, Friday August 28, in Lagos, at an event organised by Telecommunication company, Globacom, in his honour. The was tagged “An Evening With Soyinka”.
Responding to question Kunle Ajibade on his response to what Obasanjo said about him recently, Soyinka noted that Obasanjo has a right to his opinion, stressing however that Obasanjo is liar, and been described as ‘economic illiterate’.
“Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion. The question is ‘who can respect the opinion of a liar’? He is a liar and can prove that. He has been ‘described as an economic illiterate. His book My watch were full of lies. In fact, he began the book with a lie when he said that he deplores lies. I have no respect for Obasanjo. He is a liar.
I am writing a book titled Republic of Liars and Obasanjo has a prominent place in it. The book will be out soon.”
Obasanjo had also in his book, My Watch, and at public events described Soyinka as an expert in wine matters than in political analysis.
He had said, “For Wole, no one can be good, nor can anything be spot-on politically except that which emanates from him or is ordained by him. His friends and loved ones will always be right and correct, no matter what they do or fail to do. He is surely a better wine connoisseur and a more successful aparo (guinea fowl) hunter than a political critic.
“Wole Soyinka is a gifted man. I have always acknowledged that but he is a bad politician and I have also always said that. That is my own point of view. He may agree with it, he may not agree with it. For instance, I know that if I want somebody to give me the best wine, one of the people I will go to is Wole Soyinka and I know he has a taste for good wine and I said that in the book.”
However, last year December, shortly after the book went public, Soyinka had, in a piece titled, ‘Watch and Pray, Watch and Prey’, vehemently protested such a description (of him), calling Obasanjo ‘’an expert liar, who lies to boost his ego.’’
The event was a celebration of the renowned dramatist, poet, critic, activist and humanist. The event which was also a celebration of young literary stars – Seffie Attach, Tope Folarin and E. C. Osundu – was marked with performances. In attendance at the colourful event include Profs. J. P. Clarke, Ebun Clarke, Duro Oni, Bode Sowande, General Alani Akinriade (retired), Mrs Francesca Emmanuel among others, and Hollywood star Richard More Damijo, who was the compere .