Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka has firmly rejected attempts by Nigerians to dictate when he should evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing that external pressures would not influence his decision.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Soyinka reaffirmed his independence and clarified that he would share his thoughts on the administration when he deemed it appropriate, rather than conforming to a fixed timeline like the one-year milestone in office.
“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me,” Soyinka said, responding to those who had reminded him of his earlier statement about assessing Tinubu’s leadership after one year in office, which ends on May 29, 2024.
Soyinka humorously quipped, “I had not swallowed an alarm clock,” expressing his disinterest in adhering to a fixed timeline. He further added, “I don’t see why I should put my alarm on and say: ‘One year has passed, now, I must make an assessment’ if there is nothing I feel like talking about and if I am busy elsewhere.”
The prominent writer had visited Tinubu at his Bourdillon residence in Lagos on December 24, 2023, and at that time, he mentioned he would withhold judgment on the president’s administration until a year had passed. However, Soyinka made it clear that the decision to speak would be based on his own reflections and not external pressures.
Critics of Tinubu’s administration have pointed to economic mismanagement, citing rising inflation and the increasing cost of living as major issues. Despite this, Soyinka emphasized that the responsibility of assessing the government should not fall solely on him, noting the collective efforts of other public figures like the Falanas, Baiyewus, and Sowores in speaking out on various issues.
“I had no obligation to assess after one year if I don’t feel there is something to address. But if you are saying that I should call a press conference to announce, ‘One year is up, let us now make an assessment,’ my response is: Did I do that with Jonathan? Did I do that with Buhari? Did I do that with Obasanjo? Why should I do it now?” Soyinka asked.
He concluded, “If I am around, and you want to get hold of me, I will speak. That’s all that statement meant.”
