Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka says he is not ready to publicly evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, explaining that his comments on national issues are often distorted.
In an interview with BBC News Yoruba, the renowned playwright and author said he would rather wait before offering any assessment.
“I’ve been asked that question by several people,” he said in Yoruba. “I don’t want to respond because whatever one says ends up being twisted. I’m tired of that. So I want to take my time. When the moment is right, I will write my views.”
Although Soyinka has a long record of speaking out against past Nigerian administrations—including those of Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari—he has yet to formally comment on Tinubu’s presidency more than two years into the administration.
Soyinka, who has recently made headlines following the revocation of his U.S. visa, also stated in the interview that he has no intention of reapplying. He said the U.S. Consulate in Lagos asked him to bring in his passport so they could stamp the cancellation, a request he declined.
“They are jokers,” he said. “Why should I take my passport to the same people who revoked my visa? I told them to come to my house and stamp it themselves. I will not sit down to fill out any form. If they realise they made a mistake and want to return the visa, they should bring it to my house—and before they come, they will need a visa to enter.”
Soyinka had earlier confirmed at a media parley in Lagos that his B1/B2 visa had been withdrawn. The U.S. Mission later clarified that visas are privileges that may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the U.S. government.
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