Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka says he is not ready to publicly evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, explaining that his past remarks have often been misinterpreted.
Speaking in an interview with BBC News Yoruba on Tuesday, Soyinka said he prefers to take his time before commenting on the government’s performance. “Many people have asked me that question,” he said in Yoruba. “I don’t want to answer now because whatever I say will be twisted. I’m tired of that. When the time comes, I will share my view.”
Soyinka, one of Nigeria’s most outspoken intellectuals, has long been known for his fearless criticism of successive governments, including those of Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. He has yet to offer a detailed public assessment of Tinubu’s leadership, more than two years into the current administration.
In previous years, Soyinka condemned Buhari’s government for failing to tackle insecurity. In a 2021 interview, he said avoiding discussions about that era was necessary “for one’s sense of balance.”
The 91-year-old writer also discussed the recent withdrawal of his American visa, saying he has no intention of reapplying. He revealed that the U.S. Consulate in Lagos asked him to bring his passport for cancellation, which he refused. “They wrote that I should bring my passport for them to stamp it as cancelled. I told them to come to my house and do it themselves,” he said.
Soyinka added that he is not angry with the American people but will not go through another visa process. “If they realise they made a mistake and want to return it, they should bring it to my house,” he said, joking that anyone who wishes to do so would first need a visa to enter.
He announced the visa revocation at a press briefing last week in Lagos, clarifying that he is currently unable to attend scheduled events in the United States. “I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. If you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he said.
Responding to the matter, the U.S. Consulate stated that visas are privileges, not rights, and may be withdrawn at any time based on government discretion.
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