Prof Soyinka Visits President Tinubu, Discusses 7-Point Agenda

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday and discussed a 7-point agenda of his expectations with the President.

Soyinka also said he had refrained from criticising the government because it was too early to do so.

He spoke to reporters after his visit to the President at his private residence in Lagos.

Soyinka said: “My first visit, actually it was an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office.

“I think I’ve written about that. I told Atiku and himself that they should please leave the ground for young people. That was the last time we met, about five years ago.

“I call him, secretly, Olorikunkun (a stubborn man). So, he ignored my advice completely.

“So, I came to see how’s doing after neglecting my advice, I wanted to see if both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria as well as can be expected and to wish them happy Christmas. You know we’re friends, as you know, very well, and it was as a friend that I told him don’t run, leave this thing alone, but he ignored me.

“So, I have this personal policy, whether it’s Obasanjo o, Buhari o, or Jonathan, you will notice that during the first year, I hardly say anything, then people will ask me why are you not talking and I will tell them, go and ask the last person whether I spoke during the first year. So, I’m adopting the same principle. At the end of one year, ask me this question.”

Asked what he would like to see the Tinubu administration achieve, he said “that’s very simple. I came here with a seven-point agenda and we had a very thorough discussion on those items”.