Soyinka Rejects Pressure to Critique Tinubu’s Administration: ‘Stop Working on My Timetable’

 

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has rejected calls for him to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that he will speak out when he has something meaningful to contribute.

In an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief, on Monday, Soyinka dismissed expectations that he should automatically evaluate Tinubu’s government after one year in office, as he had previously suggested in December 2023.

“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me,” Soyinka said. “I didn’t swallow an alarm clock. I don’t see why I should set an alarm and say: ‘One year has passed, now I must make an assessment.’ If there’s nothing I feel like talking about, and if I’m busy elsewhere, then I won’t.”

The renowned playwright had visited President Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on December 24, 2023. At that time, when asked about the administration’s performance since taking office on May 29, 2023, Soyinka had said he would reserve judgment until the end of the first year. As Tinubu’s government marked its first anniversary on May 29, 2024, many Nigerians expected Soyinka to offer his assessment, especially amid concerns over rising inflation and economic challenges.

However, Soyinka emphasized that holding those in power accountable is a collective responsibility, noting that many other voices in the civic space have been vocal in critiquing the government.

“This business of ‘you haven’t come to do this,’ I don’t understand it,” he said. “Other people are doing the same. This is a collective effort. The Falanas speak up consistently, the Baiyewus speak up consistently, Sowore leads demonstrations. It’s a collective effort.”

He further dismissed the idea that he was under any obligation to provide a formal assessment of Tinubu’s administration, questioning why such expectations were being placed on him.

“The one year is up, which means you have a right, and I have a responsibility to respond when called upon on certain issues,” Soyinka added. “But if you’re saying I should hold a press conference and declare: ‘One year is up, let’s now make an assessment,’ the only question I’d ask is: ‘Did I do that with Jonathan? Did I do that with Buhari? Did I do that with Obasanjo? So why is it expected of me now?’”