Soyinka dismisses calls to assess Tinubu’s administration

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has dismissed calls for him to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that he does not operate on a set timetable dictated by public expectation.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Soyinka responded to mounting pressure from the public for him to evaluate Tinubu’s performance nearly two years into office.

The renowned playwright had previously stated on December 24, 2023, that he would assess Tinubu’s government after the first year. However, addressing the calls, he remarked:

“People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me. I have not swallowed an alarm clock, so I don’t see why I should set an alarm and say—one year has passed, now I must make an assessment.”

Soyinka emphasized that evaluating a government’s performance is a shared responsibility, highlighting the contributions of public figures like Femi Falana, Mojeed Baiyewu, and Omoyele Sowore, who consistently voice their opinions and lead demonstrations.

He further questioned why he was being singled out for an assessment, stating that he had not followed such a pattern under past administrations.

“The one year is up, which means you have a right, and I have a responsibility to respond when you call me on certain issues. But if you are saying that I should call a press conference to make an assessment, I would ask—did I do that with Jonathan? Did I do that with Buhari? Did I do that with Obasanjo?” he asked.

Soyinka concluded that he would speak on national issues when necessary but would not be compelled to deliver a formal assessment on demand.