Prof. Wole Soyinka and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has visited his age-long friend, and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The Round Table understands that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 8s in Lagos on the Christmas/New Year holiday, the first break he would be taking after becoming President of the most populous black nation in n the world.
President Bola Tinubu received his age-long friend, Prof. Soyinka in Lagos, yesterday, Thursday, December 28, 202e at his Bourdillion private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
At the end of the meeting the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Soyinka, informed journalists that he had presented a 7-point agenda to President Tinubu. Soyinka claimed he believes the 7-point agenda could move the country forward “in these trying periods”.
Prof. Soyinka, who said it had been five years since he last met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, referred to the president as "Olori kunkun", Yoruba words that mean "Stubborn One" for neglecting his pieces of advice to Tinubu when they last met.
Prof. Soyinka said he had given pieces of advice to both Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to leave the stage for the younger generation, when they last met five years ago but Tinubu rejected his advice and went on to become President of Nigeria.
Speaking about the contents of his seven-point agenda submitted to the president, Prof. Soyinka refused to unveil the content but hinted it includes a critical aspect that has to do with "Respect to the rule of law and adherence to the constitution of the land.
He also stated that he advised the President "On the release of various Nigerians languishing in prison for standing on some personal principles.
According to him, he is optimistic that "something positive would be done about the incarceration of prisoners of consciousness across the country.
Soyinka said he is aware that the President may not be in the know of such cases due to the bureaucracy involved in governance.
“That is the reason behind making this request; that is the way to get results for legal breaches,” he said.
Prof. Soyinka stated that, as usual, he will release his assessment of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu after his one year in Office. He said this is the same he did for his predecessors.
Parts of Prof. Soyinka's address to the journalists read:
“We met last five years ago and it was an embarrassing visit because I went to tell him not to run for office. I told him and Atiku to leave the stage for young people. I call him “olori kunkun” which means the stubborn one. He ignored my advice completely.
“I came to see him to find out how he is doing after neglecting my advice. I wanted to see how he and his wife are faring. I also came to wish them a Merry Christmas.
“You know we are old friends. And it was as a friend that I told him ‘Don’t run,” he said.
Category: World-News
Tag: Prof Soyinka Visits Tinubu Calls Him The Stubborn One
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Published 12/29/2023 7:47:19 AM