“I’m the most appropriate person to debate with you” – Prophet Odumeje challenges Wole Soyinka

The famous contentious pastor, Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere, also known as Prophet Odumeje has allegedly offered to replace the Vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, in a one-on-one debate proposed by Nobel Prize winner Prof. Wole Soyinka.

In an interview with Channels TV, Baba-Ahmed claimed that whoever swears in Bola Tinubu as president-elect on May 29 “ended democracy” in Nigeria.

Soyinka who dubbed Datti-Ahmed’s statement as “fascistic”, went further to challenge him to a debate.

In his words, the novelist said;

“A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honor and certificate of commitment.

What is at stake, ultimately is – Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive.

“I offer myself willing to engage Mr. Datti – or any nominee of his – on its platform on this very bone of contention – one-on-one – without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer”.

In a video that purportedly captured his remarks, Odumeje stated it would be appropriate for him to accept the challenge because neither he nor Soyinka was on the ballot.

The clergyman said;

  “The idea of seeking to debate with Datti-Ahmed who was on the ballot in the February 25 presidential election is funny.

As someone who knows how to provide some relief and who was also not on the ballot for that election, I’m the most appropriate person to debate with you. Pick a date and I will be there.”