Buhari’s Victory: This Is A Test – Soyinka

 

                 Prof Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Prize laureate, spoke with the BBC about the results of the presidential election and their meaning for Nigeria.

                   It should be recalled that the Nigerian writer and poet had previously characterized the campaign as “vicious, unprincipled, vulgar and violent”, praising, however, people for active participation in the process.
                 
As for the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari, the former military head of state, as the winner, Soyinka said:
“We’ll have to wait and see what that Presidency looks like. I’m happy with the fact that the possibility now opens out to stem the sliding to anarchy, hatred and lack of productivity, insensitivity in government. All that makes me very happy. But then…
“This is a test. Not just for the nation but for Buhari, because he had been here before. And I think Nigerians don’t like to remember that period.”
When asked by the interviewer what his memories from “that” period were, the prominent Nigerian responded:
“A very unnecessary brutality, even in military governments. But what matters is this: Nigerians have decided to put the past behind and attend the new direction for the nation.
“It’s a collective feeling, I think, even among the losing party, among several in the losing party and for me that’s what really matters.”
Earlier in March the Nobel prize laureate alleged that there was a plot to impose an interim government in an attempt to scuttle Nigeria’s upcoming elections.