In a recent statement, the Labor Party has expressed its disagreement with Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s assessment of the party’s performance in the 2023 general elections, describing it as a result of groupthink syndrome. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, issued the statement in Abuja.
While acknowledging Prof. Soyinka’s significant achievements in the literary world and respecting his opinion, the Labor Party emphasized the need for caution and restraint in passing judgment on the election results. The party emphasized that the matter is currently before the courts, and out of respect for the judiciary, they will withhold further comments until the Supreme Court issues a final decision.
The party also acknowledged that even esteemed individuals like Prof. Soyinka are susceptible to emotions and may have made his remarks based on information from sources with a particular bias. They pointed out that the term “Gbajue” in Yoruba, which he used, refers to fraudulent activities such as forgery, 419 scams, or narcotics trafficking—issues that have surfaced during the 2023 elections but are not directly associated with the Labor Party.
The Labor Party also noted that Prof. Soyinka highlighted electoral irregularities, but they found it perplexing that he did not address INEC’s alleged misconduct and the controversial events surrounding the election. They expressed disappointment that an activist like Prof. Soyinka would seemingly overlook issues of state capture and electoral malpractice.
However, the party did appreciate Prof. Soyinka for acknowledging the Labor Party and its presidential candidate’s role in breaking the long-standing monopoly of power held by the two major parties. They also noted his willingness to support demonstrations based on truth.
Despite these points of agreement, the Labor Party criticized Prof. Soyinka for not speaking out against various incidents that occurred during the election, such as threats to non-indigenous voters and the theft of ballot boxes. They also highlighted global condemnation of the election process and results, especially the issues surrounding the transmission of presidential results.
In conclusion, the Labor Party expressed its disappointment in Prof. Soyinka’s assessment of their performance and hoped that he would act as a statesman, standing on the side of caution and avoiding any perceived bias. They reiterated their commitment to building a new Nigeria and called on Nigerian youths to continue working towards realizing this dream.
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