- Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has denied reports that his a member of any conveners' council or the Third Force as many claim
- However, Soyinka said that he is in full support of other political parties that can come up with a viable presidential candidate
- He added that in this regard, he has fully endorsed the Alliance for the Defence of Democracy (ADD), but is not one of its members
The Nigerian renowned Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Sunday, February 3, denied reports and claims that he belongs to the Alliance for the Defence of Democracy (ADD).
Speaking on the claim that has gone viral, Soyinka, a recent statement pointed out that although he was invited to a meeting on discussions for a consensus candidate, he did not honour the invitation, Sahara Reporters reports.
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However, he stated that his resolve to “fully endorse, and have encouraged the efforts of ADD and of other similarly motivated groups to identify a candidate to take the battle to the two parties currently monopolizing the political space and throw up a viable challenger for the occupancy of Aso Rock”.
The statement read: “I wish to correct the report in The Nation, Sunday, February 3 – that confers on me membership of The Alliance for the Defence of Democracy, dedicated – among other aims – to identifying a Consensus Candidate for the coming presidential election. Neither did I attend the meeting that took place at Sheraton Hotel on Thursday, January 31, 2019. I, therefore, could not have been part of whatever resolutions were agreed upon at that meeting.
“I was invited, but I did not attend. I must state however that I fully endorse, and have encouraged the efforts of ADD and of other similarly motivated groups to identify a candidate to take the battle to the two parties currently monopolizing the political space and throw up a viable challenger for the occupancy of Aso Rock.
“Indeed, at the meeting convened by Citizen Forum at Freedom Park, coincidentally on that very day and time – I took pains to inform my audience of the ongoing meeting of the ADD, and its commendable purpose. I also mentioned the meeting of yet another group in Abuja which had been holding for over two days.
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“I am NOT a member of any Conveners’ Council or Third Force. There is cooperation among several groups and individuals on various levels, but it is essential to clarify that my interventionist role is clarified so as not to compromise my own objective preferences which will be made only after Citizen Forum has concluded its own line of inquiry and guided itself accordingly.
“We are all collaborating, monitoring and collating preferences, acting in the same cause, aspiring to a creative and effective convergence, but in full respect for the independence of action of the various groupings.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that top political parties on the platform of the third force movement such as Peoples Trust (PT), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) had jointly formed a formidle pact to contest and possibly take power from President Muhammadu Buhari.
With the new arrangement, the political parties involved had adopted the Alliance for Peoples Trust as their new name. The resolve was taken at a national convention set up by the group in Lagos on Saturday, October 6.
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