Soyinka visits Tinubu, says he ignored his advice not to run for presidency
Nigerian foremost dramatist, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Sunday, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Lagos home, where he said he had advised him not to run for the highest office in the land.
Soyinka, who spoke to journalists after the visit, said he had submitted a seven-point agenda to the President, which covered various issues affecting the nation.
He said he had also urged Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside and allow the younger generation to take over the leadership of the country.
“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,” Soyinka said.
He added that he came to see how Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, were coping with the challenges of governing Nigeria, and to wish them a Merry Christmas.
Soyinka, who is a Nobel laureate in literature, said he had a cordial and fruitful discussion with Tinubu, who is the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he hoped that the President would implement the suggestions he made in his agenda, which he did not disclose to the press.
Tinubu, who was elected as the President of Nigeria in 2023, thanked Soyinka for his visit and his advice, saying he appreciated his friendship and his contributions to the development of the country. He said he would consider the agenda and work with his cabinet to address the issues raised by the literary icon.