In a debate proposed by Nobel Prize winner Professor Wole Soyinka, Anambra preacher Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, also known as Prophet Odumeje, reportedly offered to replace Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed.
In an interview with Channels TV, Baba-Ahmed claimed that whoever swore in Bola Tinubu as president-elect on May 29 “ended democracy” in Nigeria.
Datti-Ahmed’s statement was labelled “fascistic” by Soyinka, who then challenged him to a discussion.
“A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment.
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What is at stake, ultimately is – Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive.
“I offer myself willing to engage Mr Datti – or any nominee of his – on its platform on this very bone of contention – one-on-one – without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer,”
However, Odumeje, who is purported to have made a videotaped statement, pointed out that since neither he nor Soyinka was on the ballot, he felt it was only fair for him to accept the challenge.
The minister said:
“The idea of seeking to debate with Datti-Ahmed who was on the ballot in the February 25 presidential election is funny.
As someone who knows how to provide some relief and who was also not on the ballot for that election, I’m the most appropriate person to debate with you. Pick a date and I will be there.”
