After Knocking Peter Obi, Tinubu Honours Wole Soyinka, Gives Reason
- President Bola Tinubu has honoured the first Nobel prize winner in Africa, Professor Wole Soyinka, as he named Abuja expressway after him
- The presidency, in a statement on Tuesday, June 4, disclosed that Tinubu had renamed the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) after Soyinka
- This came barely two weeks after Soyinka said Tinubu's opponent in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, was not fit to be president, citing the conduct of his supporters
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President Bola Tinubu has named the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) after the first Nobel Laureate in Africa, Professor Wole Soyinka.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu on information and strategy, announced the development in a tweet on Tuesday, June 4.
The presidential aide stated that the president's action followed recommendation from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Source: Twitter
Why Soyinka knocked Peter Obi
This came after the playwright and poet knocked out Tinubu's opponent in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi.
In May, Soyinka said Peter Obi, the Labour Party flagbearer in the presidential election, was unfit to become Nigeria's president.
He cited the conduct of his supporters, popularly known as "Obidients," during the poll.
According to The Punch, Soyinka noted that Obi's failure to control his supporters, who attacked anyone who opposed his presidential ambition, was a pointer that the former governor of Anambra was not fit to become president.
The professor alleged that Obi encouraged his supporters to attack him and others who share opposition views on social media.
Why Tinubu honoured Soyinka
After his comment, Obi's supporters descended on the octogenarian, while Obi kept mute about the development.
Barely two weeks later, Tinubu announced the renaming of the Abuja expressway after the literary giant in a statement by his spokesperson.
Onanuga's statement reads in part:
"In naming the road after the distinguished playwright, poet and novelist who clocks 90 on 13 July, President Tinubu said Soyinka was the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize. He said Soyinka has brought honour and fame to Nigeria."
Below is Onanuga's statement:
Soyinka reacts to Trump's conviction
Legit.ng earlier reported that Soyinka announced his intention to reapply for his permanent residence green card in the US.
The playwright maintained that the decision followed the conviction of former US president Donald Trump on Thursday, May 30.
Trump was convicted on Thursday for 34 counts of charges bordering on falsifying business records.
Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
