Soyinka Dismisses Pressure to Assess Tinubu’s Administration on Public Demand

Renowned Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has dismissed attempts by Nigerians to dictate when he should evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, reaffirming his independence in political commentary.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Soyinka made it clear that external pressures would not influence his decision on when to share his views on Tinubu’s leadership. He rejected the expectation that he must assess the government precisely at its one-year mark, emphasizing that he would only speak when he finds it necessary.

“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me,” the literary icon stated in response to those reminding him of his earlier comment about evaluating Tinubu’s presidency after a year in office, which elapsed on May 29, 2024.

“I had not swallowed an alarm clock,” Soyinka quipped, stressing that he would not be bound by arbitrary timelines.

Soyinka, who met with Tinubu at his Lagos residence in December 2023, had previously indicated that he would reserve judgment until after the administration’s first year. However, he now insists that his decision to speak remains personal and not subject to public demand.

Critics have blamed the Tinubu administration for economic challenges, citing record inflation and a worsening cost of living. Despite this, Soyinka maintained that governance critique should be a collective effort rather than an individual responsibility.

“This business of ‘you haven’t come to do this,’ I don’t understand it,” he remarked. “Other people are speaking up—the Falanas, the Baiyewus, the Sowores. It’s a collective effort.”

Soyinka further questioned why people expected him to follow a fixed schedule for political assessments.

“The one year is up, which means you have a right to ask, and I have a responsibility to respond when approached. But if you expect me to hold a press conference just because a year has passed, I ask—did I do that with Jonathan? Buhari? Obasanjo? Why should I start now?”

With this stance, the elder statesman reaffirmed his independence in political discourse, making it clear that his critiques will come at his own time and choosing.