Posted by Sakibu Olokojobi on
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, may institute a legal action against former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, over alleged dishonest use of a statement credited to the former in an advertisement for the 2007 presidential post.
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, may institute a legal action against former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, over alleged dishonest use of a statement credited to the former in an advertisement for the 2007 presidential post.
One of the campaign organisations of the former Military President, Destiny Mandate Group, had, in an advertisement published in a national newspaper, quoted Soyinka as describing Babangida as 'A man who is very concerned of his place in Nigerian history, capable of great compassion, great human compassion."
But in his immediate reaction, Soyinka who spoke with Sunday Independent from London on Friday, described the advertisement as dishonest and misleading.
According to him, the statement in the advertisement was used out of contest.
Professor Soyinka, while further decrying the advertisement, stressed that it was provocative and would be responded to in very strong term soon.
The Nobel laureate said he had started consulting his lawyers for a possible legal action.
His words: 'My immediate reaction is that this is a most dishonest use of something which was said in a particular context. And if it continues, then, I will have to mount a very definite counter action.
'It is something, which was used in a particular context. And to use it for IBB campaign, I consider it very dishonest. When I get back, I shall have a lot more to say about it. I'm in London right now.
'In addition to this, I consider it a great provocation and one which is going to elicit a very strong response from me. It's a very dishonest advertisement, and it is going to earn a very strong response from me. I'm consulting my lawyer; I'm seeking legal advice already."