Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has rejected any attempts to dictate when he should assess President Tinubu’s administration, asserting his independence and freedom from external pressures.
Soyinka made it clear that he would offer his evaluation of the government only when he finds it necessary and when he has substantial observations to share, rejecting the idea of adhering to a predetermined timeline, such as the one-year mark of Tinubu’s presidency.
He cautioned Nigerians against trying to dictate his schedule, explaining that he would speak on Tinubu’s administration when he had something important to say.
“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me,” Soyinka remarked, referring to those who were urging him to fulfill his earlier promise to assess Tinubu’s leadership after one year in office, which passed on May 29, 2024.
“I had not swallowed an alarm clock,” Soyinka humorously stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program on Monday. “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’s nothing I feel like talking about and if I’m busy elsewhere.”
In December 2023, Soyinka visited Tinubu at his Lagos residence. At the time, when asked about assessing the administration that began in May 2023, Soyinka said he would wait until May 2024 before commenting.
Critics have pointed to mismanagement of the economy, with rising inflation and the increased cost of living, accusing Tinubu of not meeting expectations. As his second year in office approaches in May 2025, many had anticipated Soyinka’s assessment.
However, Soyinka emphasized that the responsibility of evaluating a government is shared by many voices. He noted that prominent figures such as the Falanas, Baiyewus, and Sowores have been vocal in critiquing the administration, and that the process of evaluation is a collective effort.
“The one-year mark has passed, meaning I have a responsibility to respond when called upon,” Soyinka explained. “But just because one year is up doesn’t mean I should schedule a press conference to say, ‘Now it’s time for an assessment.’ Did I do that with Jonathan? Did I do that with Buhari? Did I do that with Obasanjo? Why is it expected of me now?”
Soyinka stressed that he would speak if there was something significant to say, in line with his personal timeline and observations.
