Nobel Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Sunday, December 24, 2023, visited President Bola Tinubu in his Lagos home, where the President is currently on holidays.
Soyinka, said he felt uncomfortable visiting President Tinubu because he had asked him and Atiku Abubakar five years ago to leave the political scene for young politicians.
Soyinka explained partly the reason for his visit, the academic said he came to see the President to see how he was doing after ignoring the advice he offered him five years ago.
The Nobel Laureate also disclosed that he visited the President with a seven-point agenda, adding that they had a thorough discussion on the items on the agenda.
“Actually, it’s an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office. I told Atiku and himself to please leave the ground so young people could run. That’s the last time we met about five years ago.
“So I came to see how he was doing after ignoring my advice. I came to see how both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria, and to wish them a Happy Christmas,” Soyinka said.
When asked to comment on the performance of President Tinubu’s government so far, Soyinka said he would reserve his observations about the President’s performance until after one year.
He explained that he usually gives Nigerian presidents one year before assessing their administrations.
“Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most heads of state, when they take office, I always leave them alone for about the first year…because they need time.
“I know when they come in, they don’t start from ground zero. They often start even lower than ground zero and they have to make up.
“So, I’m adopting the same principle this time. When you see me next year, ask the same question again and listen to my answer,” he said.
