Soyinka Finally Speaks on Promise to Assess Tinubu After One Year: “Stop Working on My Timetable”

• Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has rejected calls for him to assess President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government
• In a recent interview, Soyinka maintained that he will speak when he has something meaningful to say
• Soyinka had previously mentioned that he would assess Tinubu’s administration after one year, but he clarified that assessing a government is a collective responsibility, not solely his duty

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has asked Nigerians not to work on his timetable for him.

He noted that he will speak on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government when he has something to say.

The nonagenarian cautioned those asking him to fulfil his promise to assess Tinubu’s administration after one year in office which elapsed on May 29, 2024.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, March 24, Soyinka emphasised that he does not follow an “alarm clock” for political commentary and dismissed expectations that he would automatically make a statement after Tinubu’s one-year mark.

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He said:

“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me. I had not swallowed an alarm clock.”

“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.”

What Soyinka said after visiting Tinubu

Recall that on Sunday, December 24, 2023, Soyinka paid a visit to Tinubu in his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Speaking with reporters after meeting with the Nigerian leader, Professor Soyinka, who described Tinubu as an old friend, said he would assess his administration after a year in office, in May 2024.

Critics have accused Tinubu, an ex-Lagos governor, of mismanaging the economy, with all-time high inflation and unprecedented cost of living.

Interestingly, Bola Tinubu’s administration would be two years in office by May 29, 2025, and many expected Soyinka to fulfil his promise.

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However, the Nobel Laureate said many conscientious persons had been speaking and that assessing any government is a collective responsibility of like-minded persons.

Soyinka said:

“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.”

Read more about Soyinka, and criticism of Tinubu's govt here:

• Rivers emergency rule: Soyinka finally reacts as Tinubu suspends Fubara in trending video
• Atiku's aide slams Tinubu as Nigerians hustle hard to survive in 2025: "Weapon fashioned against us"
• Wike mentions what Nigerians should do about Tinubu’s policies
• APC fires back at Obi over "Nigeria is reversing, declining" New Year's message to Nigerians

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Sanusi decries spate of economic hardship in Nigeria

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has voiced serious concerns about Nigerians' severe economic hardships.

He made these remarks on Thursday, July 18, 2024, during a ceremony at the Government House for distributing free fertilizer to 52,800 smallholder farmers across the 44 local government areas of Kano state.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng