Oluwatosin Enesi
Soyinka made this statement during an interview held in commemoration of his 90th birthday.
The team inquired when Soyinka would fulfill the promise he made to speak on President Tinubu’s performance after the administration completed its first year in office.
The literary giant had made that promise during a visit to Tinubu in Lagos late last year.
However, the Nobel laureate informed the team that he knew many were eager for him to comment on Tinubu’s administration, anticipating a confrontation, but he would disappoint them by choosing to stay silent for the time being.
Soyinka said, “First of all, understand that I don’t live on an alarm clock. And I hope nobody is so naive as to think that on the dot of one year I am going to speak. That’s number one.
“Number two, you asked that question nicely: Do I have anything to say and so on, which is the way it should be. I know that there are some people out there, who are waiting for Wole Soyinka to speak. Whatever he says, they are going to jump at him.
“If you read my Baiting Igbophobia, I narrate a conversation, which was transmitted to me, in which these people sent one of their marching orders to somebody that he should go and deal with me. The man said you know I don’t understand what Soyinka says.
“They told him, Who says you should understand? Any time he opens his mouth, jump in his throat. That’s the way they put it. I’m quoting them. And my response to that, of course, is that I have swallowed more toxic nonsense in my life, anybody who jumps in my throat I would swallow and excrete it in the rear end, and go back to my business normally!
“So, they are there, salivating, waiting for Wole Soyinka to speak. After cutting my American Green Card, I did not announce it for several months, the same way I intend to keep quiet for now and not make any public statement. As far as I am concerned, they can go and commit suicide, wherever they are, or come and jump in my throat as they have been directed. I know those who are waiting. I want to disappoint them.”
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