The Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian author Wole Soyinka has refuted a claim that he supported Bola Tinubu, the APC candidate for president, as his preferred candidate.
Before Saturday's presidential election, he falsely claimed to have Bola Tinubu, the APC's leader, on his side in a social media post.
Recall that Soyinka stated in a social media post that he is prepared to take on anyone who opposes Tinubu's bid for president.
The alleged statement read, “Quote me anywhere; Nigerians don’t need the like of Atiku and Obasanjo to lead them again. We have tested the two: Atiku is corrupt, and Obasanjo is a liar. Both of them are greedy and self-centred.
“Anybody, any cabal, any Viju milk activist, attempting to humiliate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must have me to contend with.
“An average PDP man is angry with Asiwaju because he brought them to their knees. If anyone thinks that bringing down Asiwaju is his project, that mission will not only crash but it will boomerang.”
But in a post on his social media account on Sunday, Soyinka said that the statement was false and made up by people who spread fake news.
He said, “Professor Soyinka did NOT at any time or on any occasion issue such a statement.
“It is simply the works of peddlers of fake news and falsehood, who profit from misinformation to gain political advantages.
“The media and members of the public are advised to ignore the message or any other political message that addresses or targets any political party or political actor.”