Wole Soyinka - We Don't Want Do Or Die Elections

Nobel Prize winner ,Wole Soyinka
has revealed he was not disappointed with the direction of democracy in the country and wants the Abuja peace accord to be upheld by all candidates and parties.

He asked candidates to be responsible for their supporters so as not allow violence escalate, no matter who wins.

 See His full statement below

 I was with high expectations that I went gone through details of the Abuja peace accord recently agreed by the political party leaders, mandating...
decent and civilized campaign conduct among the contestants, their agents and supporters. 

  I was not disappointed. It is a positive step in the direction of democracy, for which I must commend the efforts of those seasoned interventionists, Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi Annan. Adhered to with good will and sincerity, it should ensure a wholesome space for future elections, and pre-empt further violence. It might even come close to what the democratic ideal should be, as canvassed by others, including Governor Fashola a few years ago – a people’s fiests!

 This criminal proceeding has even involved the cloning of media mastheads to which non-existent interviews are then attached. To render it in local parlance, this is political 419, and of the most despicable brand.

From personal interest however, I was disappointed that the communiqué makes no reference to the violence done to members of the electorate whose identities are stolen, abused and debased during this exercise. It is rapidly becoming commonplace to encounter totally fictitious statements, even entire interviews published and attributed to unsuspecting authorship. 

While it would be unjust to place direct responsibility on the contestants, one must stress that they also have a moral responsibility to denounce these dirty tricksters in the strongest terms, even in their own interest. 

source ...vanguard