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Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has dismissed ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo as someone he has no respect for because he is a liar and somebody who should not be taken seriously.
Soyinka tarbrushed Obasanjo on Friday at an event organised in his honour by telecommunication company, Globacom, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event which was a gathering of the creme de la creme in the literary world, was tagged, “An Evening With Soyinka.”
Responding to a question from Kunle Ajibade on his response to Obasanjo’s judgment of him recently as a political illiterate, Soyinka said that Obasanjo has a right to his opinion, stressing however that Obasanjo is a liar, as well as an ‘economic illiterate’.
In his words, “Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion. The question is ‘who can respect the opinion of a liar’? He is a liar and I can prove that. He has been ‘described as an economic illiterate.
“His book, My Watch was full of lies. In fact, he began the book with a lie when he said that he deplores lies, and he repeated it several times. I’m not bothered when somebody like Obasanjo passes his opinion about me. I have no respect for Obasanjo. He is a liar.
“I am writing a book titled, ‘Republic of Liars’ and Obasanjo has a prominent place in it. The book will be out soon.”
The event was a celebration of the renowned dramatist, poet, critic, activist and humanist. The event which was also a celebration of young literary stars – Seffie Attah, Tope Folarin and E. C. Osundu – was marked with performances.
In attendance at the colourful event were Profs. J. P. Clarke, Ebun Clarke, Akachi Ezeigbo, Duro Oni, Bode Sowande, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Mrs Francesca Emmanuel, among others and Hollywood star Richard More Damijo, who was the compere.
