Wole Soyinka Speaks Out On Assessing Tinubu's Presidency

Prof. Wole Soyinka on the Clock: Why He's Not Rushing to Judge Tinubu's Presidency

Listen up, everyone: Nobel Laureate and renowned Nigerian intellectual, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has some thoughts to share about the expectations placed on him to critique President Bola Tinubu's administration. Now, you might recall that back in December 2023, Soyinka visited Tinubu at his Bourdillon residence in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State. At the time, journalists were eager to hear his take on Tinubu's leadership, which had just begun in May 2023. Soyinka, being the thoughtful and measured individual he is, decided he’d reserve judgment until the one-year mark in May 2024. That deadline has come and gone, but guess what? Soyinka’s not in any hurry to oblige.

Why the Delay? Soyinka’s Perspective

It’s no secret that President Tinubu’s administration has faced criticism over the past year, with accusations of economic mismanagement, rising inflation, and an unprecedented cost of living. As Tinubu’s administration approaches its second anniversary on May 29, 2025, many Nigerians had hoped Soyinka would weigh in with his assessment. However, during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program, Soyinka made it crystal clear that Nigerians shouldn’t expect him to stick to anyone’s timeline but his own.

Soyinka questioned why people expect him to assess Tinubu when he hasn’t done so for former presidents. He pointed out that there are plenty of other voices speaking out on the state of the nation. Assessing a government, he argued, is a collective responsibility that involves everyone who cares about the country’s future. In his own words, Soyinka said, “People should stop trying to work on my timetable for me. I didn’t swallow an alarm clock, you know? There’s no reason for me to set an arbitrary deadline to make a statement if I’m busy with other things or don’t feel the need to comment at that moment.”

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It’s a Team Effort

Soyinka emphasized that evaluating a government isn’t a solo act—it’s a group effort. He reminded everyone that there are already plenty of voices contributing to the national conversation. “The Falanas speak consistently. The Baiyewus speak consistently. The Sowores come out and try to lead demonstrations. It’s a collective effort,” he explained. He added, “The one-year mark passing doesn’t mean I have to rush to a press conference and declare my verdict. If you want my opinion, you can ask, and I’ll give it. But don’t expect me to follow some artificial timeline that I’ve never adhered to before.”

Soyinka also drew parallels with his past behavior, pointing out that he hasn’t issued formal assessments of previous presidents like Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, or Olusegun Obasanjo. So why the sudden pressure now? He concluded by saying, “All it means is that one year is up. If I’m around and you want to get hold of me, I’d be happy to speak. That’s all my statement was meant to convey.”

In the end, Soyinka’s message is clear: he’ll speak when he feels the time is right, and he’ll let the collective voices of concerned Nigerians do the heavy lifting in the meantime. After all, democracy thrives when everyone participates, not just one person.