Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has presented a seven-point agenda to President Bola Tinubu which he hopes could move the country forward “in these trying periods”.
The literary icon who stated this in Lagos while fielding questions from journalists after he met with the President said he would not want to disclose what he presented, but added that a critical aspect was that of respect to the rule of law and adherence to the constitution of the land.
Soyinka added that the discussion also centred 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.
Soyinka said his assessment of President Tinubu’s administration will come after one year in office.
He said that this had been his tradition with Tinubu’s predecessors over the years.
“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.
