Renowned Nobel Laureate and scholar, Prof. Wole Soyinka, disclosed on Sunday that he would withhold his commentary on President Bola Tinubu’s administration until a year into the leader’s term, around May 2024.
Soyinka characterized this stance as a personal practice, explaining that the one-year buffer allows the President sufficient time to rectify any setbacks.
During a courtesy visit to the President, who was enjoying a holiday in Lagos, Soyinka shared, “Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most heads of state, when they take office, I always leave them alone for about the first year…because they need time.”
“I know when they come in, they don’t start from ground zero. They often start even lower than ground zero and they have to make up. So, I’m adopting the same principle this time. When you see me next year, ask the same question again and listen to my answer,” he added.
Soyinka, terming the visit as “embarrassing,” indicated that he presented a seven-point agenda to the President during their discussion but opted not to disclose the details.
Reflecting on the purpose of the visit, Soyinka remarked, “Actually, it’s an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office. I told Atiku and himself to please leave the ground so young people could run. That’s the last time we met about five years ago.”
“I came to see how he was doing after ignoring my advice. I came to see how both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria, and to wish them a Happy Christmas,” he concluded.
In a separate visit, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, encouraged Nigerians to remain patient, expressing confidence that the ongoing economic reforms would lead to prosperity if sustained.
Otti commended the President’s bold and unifying policies, such as the exchange rate adjustments and the removal of subsidies, acknowledging the challenges they pose in an economy where over 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Despite these hurdles, Otti emphasized the importance of patience and unwavering commitment to the policies for positive transformations over time.
