Renowned playwright and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he is not ready to publicly evaluate the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing repeated distortions of his statements on national issues.
Speaking in an interview with BBC News Yoruba, Soyinka said he prefers to hold back his assessment for now, warning that whatever he says tends to be misrepresented by the public and media alike.
“I have been asked that question by several people,” Soyinka said in Yoruba.
“I don’t want to answer because it seems as if there’s nothing one says that won’t be twisted, and I’m tired of that. So, I want to take my time. When it’s time, I will write my view on that.”
The literary icon, who has long been known for his fearless criticism of successive Nigerian governments — from Olusegun Obasanjo to Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari — has so far refrained from issuing any formal verdict on Tinubu’s presidency, more than two years since it began.
Soyinka also used the interview to address the recent controversy surrounding the revocation of his U.S. visa, revealing that he has no plans to reapply for one.
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He recounted how officials at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos had invited him to bring his passport so that the cancellation could be officially stamped — a request he flatly refused.
“They are jokers,” Soyinka said, laughing. “I should take my passport to those who revoked my visa? I told them they should come to my house and stamp it themselves. I cannot say I’ll be applying again or sitting down to fill out any form. But if they realise they made a mistake and want to return the visa, they should bring it to my house — and before you come to my house, you’ll need a visa to enter.”
Soyinka had earlier disclosed during a media parley in Lagos that his B1/B2 visa was revoked by U.S. authorities. The U.S. Mission later clarified that visa issuance “is a privilege, not a right,” and can be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the U.S. government.
