By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has hit back at the Nobel Laureate , Professor Wole Soyinka , describing the criticism against his government as selective advocacy.

Daniel in a statement titled: ‘Why we must pray for Wole Soyinka’ signed by one of his media aides, Steve Oliyide said, he was disappointed over the comments credited to the Professor about his style of governance while he held sway as governor of the state.

Daniel was governor for eight years between 2003 and 2011 . His second term was characterised by a lot of crisis including the closure of the legislative complex following the emergence of two Speakers in the Assembly .

Soyinka had lampooned Daniel over his alleged roles during the crisis which he said portrayed the State in a bad light.

Soyinka had granted an interview shortly after featuring in a programme organised by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on ‘Zero Tolerance’, a publication of the commission and blamed Daniel for the crises that occurred during his tenure.

But, Daniel said he had noticed that Soyinka’s now delights in making disparaging reference to him.

The statement reads in part; “We frown at the ‘selective advocacy’ Professor Soyinka had recently descended to in his version of ‘activism’ as if the whole world should be made to look at political issues only from the selective prism and perspective of Professor Soyinka. We think not.’’