Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has commended former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for his resolute stance during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, where he refused to step down for eventual winner, Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday at an event marking Amaechi’s 60th birthday, Soyinka described the former Rivers State governor as a symbol of courage and persistence. He recalled watching the APC primaries live from Abu Dhabi and said Amaechi’s defiance was both striking and satisfying.
“I admire Rotimi Amaechi’s fighting spirit. It’s consistent,” Soyinka said. “What struck me most was during the primaries I watched it live. It gave me a sort of mischievous pleasure to see the incumbent president receive a taste of his own medicine.”
Drawing a parallel, Soyinka reminded the audience of Tinubu’s own moment of political resistance his defiance during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failed third-term agenda.
“There was a time when Tinubu stood alone against a president trying to manipulate the constitution for a third term. While others were silent, he stood firm. Similarly, during the APC primaries, Amaechi didn’t step aside like the others. That’s what democracy looks like,” he added.
In the 2022 primaries, Tinubu emerged as the APC flagbearer with 1,271 votes. Amaechi placed second with 316 votes, while then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235.
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