Wole Soyinka Reveals Why He Hasn’t Fulfilled His Promise To Evaluate Tinubu’s Govt

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has made it clear that he will assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration on his own terms, not based on public pressure.

Speaking on Monday on Channels Television, Wole Soyinka dismissed demands for him to fulfill his earlier promise about reviewing Tinubu’s leadership after one year in office, which ended on May 29, 2024.

“I had not swallowed an alarm clock,” he said. “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.”

In December 2023. Wole Soyinka deferred commenting on Tinubu’s administration, saying he would do so after a year in office.

Now, with that milestone passed, many had expected him to speak, especially as Tinubu faces criticism over rising inflation and the cost of living.

However, Soyinka argued that evaluating a government is not solely his responsibility.

He pointed out that other voices, such as human rights lawyer Femi Falana, journalist Festus Baiyewu, and activist Omoyele Sowore, have consistently spoken out on national issues.

Soyinka reiterated that while he remains open to discussing governance, he will do so at his own discretion, not because of external pressure.

“This business of ‘you haven’t come to do this’, I don’t understand it. Other people are doing the same; this is a collective effort. The Falanas speak consistently. The Baiyewus speak consistently. The Sowores come out and try to lead demonstrations. It’s a collective effort.

“The one year is up which means you have a right and I have a responsibility to respond when you call me on certain issues. But if you are saying that I would call a press conference and say: ‘One year is up, let us now make an assessment’.

“The only question I’d ask you is: ‘Did I do that with Jonathan?’ Did I do that with Buhari?’ ‘Did I do that with Obasanjo?’ ‘Did I do that with anybody? So, why is it expected of me?

“All it means is that one year is up. If I am around, and you want to get hold of me, I would speak. That’s all that statement meant,” he aaid.

KanyiDaily recalls that in August 2024, Professor Wole Soyinka criticized President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address, saying it ignored the violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protesters by security forces.