BY Taiwo George
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, says he does not have any preferred candidate, whether presidential or gubernatorial, for next month’s general election.
In recent times, articles of Soyinka on some controversial issues have been in circulation, particularly on social media.
But in an open letter titled ‘Identity Thieves And The 2015 Election Peace Accord’, Kongi, as he is fondly called, accused those behind such act of attempting to mislead the public.
“I have never made a statement endorsing any presidential or governorship contestant,” he wrote.
“All such attributions are fabrications by faceless, often self-appointed agents of deception, and should be publicly pilloried. Whenever I choose to declare support for a candidate – as is my electoral right – I shall ensure that I deploy a medium that places my authorship beyond dispute.
“Internet habitues, social network etc are urged to be less gullible, and avoid becoming cheap conduits for the deception industry!”
Lauding the initiative of making presidential candidates in the forthcoming election to reach the agreement on shunning violence, Soyinka expressed the desire that the poll turns out a success.
But the social critic had some reservations about certain areas that were not addressed.
“It is a positive step in the direction of democracy, for which I must commend the efforts of those seasoned interventionists, Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi Annan,” he wrote.
“Adhered to with goodwill and sincerity, it should ensure a wholesome space for future elections, and preempt further violence. It might even come close to what the democratic ideal should be, as canvassed by others, including Governor Fashola a few years ago – a people’s fiests!
“From personal interest however, I was disappointed that the communiqué makes no reference to the violence done to members of the electorate whose identities are stolen, abused and debased during this exercise.
“It is rapidly becoming commonplace to encounter totally fictitious statements, even entire interviews published and attributed to unsuspecting authorship. This criminal proceeding has even involved the cloning of media mastheads to which non-existent interviews are then attached. To render it in local parlance, this is political 419, and of the most despicable brand.
“While it would be unjust to place direct responsibility on the contestants, one must stress that they also have a moral responsibility to denounce these dirty tricksters in the strongest terms, even in their own interest.
“The resentment inspired in victims of such cowardly conduct cannot but impact on their own political image. The media must also protect itself by taking necessary measures against such unprincipled confusionists. It is the democratic right of every citizen to know exactly who is saying what on issues that affect their political choices.
“I join General Abdulsalami and others in hoping that 2015 proves a live-and-learn election year, not a do-or-die!”
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