Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka has made it clear that he will assess President Bola Tinubu’s government at his own pace. He stated that no one should dictate when he should share his views, emphasizing that he would only speak when he had something important to say.
Soyinka spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, March 24. He rejected the idea of evaluating Tinubu’s leadership based on a set timeline, such as the one-year mark of his presidency, which ends on May 29, 2024.
“I Had Not Swallowed an Alarm Clock”
In response to those reminding him of his past statement about reviewing Tinubu’s performance after a year, Soyinka humorously said, “I had not swallowed an alarm clock.” He explained that he would not force himself to make an assessment if he had nothing significant to discuss or if he was busy with other matters.
Soyinka also mentioned his visit to President Tinubu’s home in Lagos on December 24, 2023. At that time, he had already indicated that he would wait before making any judgment on the administration’s performance.
Soyinka also addressed concerns about the government’s handling of the economy, rising inflation, and the high cost of living. However, he pointed out that other individuals and activists, such as Femi Falana, Taiwo Baiyewu, and Omoyele Sowore, are actively speaking on national issues. He emphasized that assessing the government is a shared responsibility, not just his alone.
Soyinka questioned why people expected him to formally assess Tinubu’s government after one year when he had never done the same for past presidents like Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, or Muhammadu Buhari.
He clarified that while he acknowledges that one year has passed, he would only respond to questions on governance if approached directly. However, he dismissed the idea of calling a press conference just because a year had passed.
“I will speak if I am around and you ask me about it, but I don’t see why I should make an official statement just because time has passed,” he concluded.
