A Bewildered Reflection on Wole Soyinka’s Scathing Indictment
By Damilola Omosebi
The Divine Chase and the Shameless Return
Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel laureate in Literature and an unrelenting voice of conscience, recently unleashed a blistering condemnation of Nigeria’s recycled political class; a cabal of serial looters now regrouping under new guises, claiming to “rescue” the same nation they bled dry. His words were not just an accusation; they were a divine indictment:
“I challenge anybody to mention one person who’s better than Tinubu out of all, I mean all the Politicians grouping themselves to form coalition claiming to come back & rescue Nigeria they couldn’t rescue for 40 years as if they’re not the ones who actually looted Nigeria treasury to the shadow of itself…”
This statement, dripping with fury and frustration, forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: Nigeria’s opposition is not a redemption force but a regrouping of certified treasury looters.
The ADC and the Coalition of the Desperate: Who Are These “Rescuers”?
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has positioned itself as a “third force,” a supposed alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But a forensic examination of its composition reveals a grotesque recycling of the same old faces—men and women who once held power, squandered it, and now seek a triumphant return under the deceptive banner of “change.”
The PDP Refugees
Many ADC chieftains are disgruntled PDP elements who, after failing to reclaim their party, jumped ship. These are the same politicians who presided over Nigeria’s most brazen looting eras—the fuel subsidy scams, the arms deal heists, the disappearing billions. Now, they wear the ADC’s “progressive” mask, hoping Nigerians suffer collective amnesia.
The APC Defectors
Then there are the APC turncoats; those who rode to power with President Muhammadu Buhari’s “anti-corruption” wave, only to become worse than the thieves they replaced. Having fallen out of favour with Tinubu’s political machinery, they now posture as saviours. The irony is nauseating.
The Perennial Opportunists
ADC also harbours Nigeria’s career political nomads—individuals who switch parties like underwear, aligning only with where power flows. These are men and women who have held ministerial seats, governorships, and Senate positions, yet their only legacy is unexplained wealth and failed constituencies.
Soyinka’s Challenge: Name One Better Than Tinubu?
Soyinka’s gauntlet is brutal in its simplicity: Can anyone in this “rescue coalition” honestly claim moral or performance superiority over Tinubu?
- Atiku Abubakar?
A man whose private sector record is overshadowed by allegations of grand corruption, including the infamous PTDF scandal. - Rabiu Kwankwaso?
A former governor whose tenure in Kano left behind more debt than development. - Peter Obi?
Though marketed as frugal, his political alliances and past affiliations with PDP’s rot remain questionable. - Bukola Saraki?
The Senate President under whose watch Nigeria’s legislative arm became a bazaar for budget padding.
The truth is, none of them can honestly claim innocence. They are all products of the same decadent system they now pretend to oppose.
The Divine Chase and the Thief’s Plea for Another Chance
Soyinka’s most piercing metaphor is that of a thief caught red-handed, begging for another opportunity to steal.
“We all know what a thief who was severally caught red-handed but still begging to be given another chance is capable of doing…”
This is the tragedy of Nigeria’s opposition politics. The same politicians who wrecked the economy, who watched Boko Haram grow under their negligence, who privatized national assets into their pockets, now return with teary promises of “rescue.” It is not rescue; it is a second round of plunder.
The Arewa Caliphate Cabal Fear: A Return to Mediocrity
Soyinka’s warning is prophetic:
“We will not allow them set us back to era of Arewa Caliphate cabal system of government…”
This is not just about ethnicity; it is about a regression to a cabal-controlled government, where a few unelected powerbrokers dictate Nigeria’s fate. The PDP’s 16 years were defined by this. The APC’s reign, despite initial promises, succumbed to it. Now, the ADC and its coalition partners threaten to revive this monster under a new name.
The People’s Rejection in Advance
Nigerians are not fools. The masses, long betrayed, are now rejecting these charlatans in advance. The anger Soyinka channels is the rage of a nation tired of recycled deceivers.
The ADC’s “rescue mission” is a scam. The politicians regrouping under its banner are the same foxes who once guarded the henhouse. If they couldn’t fix Nigeria when they had power, why should we believe they will do so now?
As Soyinka thundered: God forbid!
And so say all of us.
