Wole Soyinka won’t assess Tinubu’s government now
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has stated that he will not assess the administration of Bola Tinubu at this time, explaining that he will speak only when he feels it is necessary. He made the comment during an interview on the television programme The Morning Brief, where he rejected the idea of being driven by a fixed timetable to evaluate the government.
Soyinka said that although the one-year anniversary of Tinubu’s presidency passed on May 29 2024, he did not feel obliged to issue any judgement simply because of a milestone. He remarked, “People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me. I had not swallowed an alarm clock.” He further explained that if he is busy or has nothing particular to say, he sees no reason to force an assessment.
The respected playwright and activist also reminded the public that evaluating government is a collective task, not solely his responsibility. He referenced other voices such as Femi Falana, Festus Baiyewu and Omoyele Sowore who consistently speak on national issues. “This business of ‘you haven’t come to do this’, I do not understand it,” he said.
In short, Soyinka’s position is that he will offer commentary when he has substantial observations, not because he is pressed by external deadlines or expectations.
