Stop confusing Nigerians. It is not possible to honor MKO Abiola in one breathe and and then admire his tormentor in another breath - Soyinka

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka today told President Buhari that honroing late Chief MKO Abiola and praising his ''tormentor in chief'' was quite confusing.

Prof. Soyinka spoke at the Presidential Villa during the conferment of posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election, the Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Though the Nobel Laureate did not mention any name, his words pointed to the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha who President Buhari had praised in recent times. Speaking at the event, Soyinka said

“I would like to make a request Mr President that you stop creating confusion in the minds of Nigerians. Stop confusing Nigerians.  It is not possible to honor MKO Abiola in one breathe and and then admire his tormentor in another breath. Loyalty is all very well but that loyalty can become perverse if that loyalty is retained to an individual who if he were alive today, would be before the international court of crimes against humanity, one who broke the laws of Nigeria, committed crimes humanity. It is confusing if professional loyalty is carried so far.

We had a private conversation sometime ago and remember that one of the things I mentioned to you was this, You are fighting corruption, how come it that a notorious corrupt ruler is honored by one of the most important avenues in the FCT. The answer you gave to me was not too satisfactory but I let it pass. Today perhaps is also a day for us to inaugurate our hall of shame to future generations'' he said