Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said he is not ready to publicly evaluate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, citing repeated cases of his remarks being misrepresented.

In an interview with BBC News Yoruba published on Facebook on Tuesday, the renowned playwright and activist stated that he would share his opinion on the current government when he feels it is appropriate.

“I have been asked that question by several people,” Soyinka said in Yoruba. “I don’t want to respond because whatever one says tends to be twisted, and I’m tired of that. So, I’ll take my time. When the time is right, I’ll express my views.”

Known for his outspoken criticism of past Nigerian administrations, including those of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and the late Muhammadu Buhari, Soyinka has yet to make any public statement assessing Tinubu’s government, which is now over two years old.

In 2019, the Nobel laureate criticized Buhari’s administration, saying it had failed Nigerians in addressing the country’s security challenges. Two years later, in an interview with Kaftan TV, he remarked, “I don’t want to talk about Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. For my own peace of mind, I prefer to avoid that subject. I can discuss specific issues Nigeria is facing, but for one’s sanity, it’s best to forget that administration ever existed.”

Soyinka also addressed the recent controversy surrounding the revocation of his U.S. visa, revealing that he has no plans to reapply despite being advised to do so by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos.

According to him, “The letter from the embassy said I should bring my passport so they can stamp it to show it has been cancelled. They must be joking. I told them they should come to my house and stamp it themselves. I will not be reapplying or filling out any form, whether online or in person. But if one day they realise their mistake and decide to return my visa, they can bring it to my house — and before coming, they’ll need a visa to enter.”

During a recent media briefing in Lagos, the 91-year-old author disclosed that his U.S. B1/B2 visa had been revoked, clarifying that he would not be able to attend scheduled events in the United States.

“I’m holding this press conference so that people expecting me for events in the U.S. won’t waste their time. I have no visa; apparently, I’m banned. If anyone wants to see me, they know where to find me,” he said at Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

Soyinka, a long-standing critic of former U.S. President Donald Trump, added that he does not know the reason behind the cancellation of his visa.

The U.S. Consulate in Lagos later clarified that visas are a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the U.S. government.