Nobel Prize-winning author, Prof. Wole Soyinka has decided not to attend a visa reinterview scheduled by the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria for September 11.
Soyinka expressed that he found the invitation unusual and initially suspected it might be a scam.
“I thought it was one of those fake letters that trick people into paying for non-existent visas,” he said.
He mentioned that he had never received such a letter from an embassy before, which led him to believe it might be fraudulent.
According to him, after realizing the letter was legitimate, he reflected on his history with U.S. diplomats, noting that he has always maintained a respectful relationship with them.
However, he emphasized that he has more important matters to focus on than pursuing visas for places he doesn’t wish to visit and where he feels unwelcome.
“Going to that interview is completely out of the question,” he stated.
Soyinka also shared his discomfort with the date of the interview, September 11.
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He pointed out that this day is significant and should be observed as a day of remembrance and reflection, especially in the United States.
“I believe that 9/11 should be marked as a day of national mourning,” he said, suggesting that the consulate should close its offices to honor the day rather than calling people in for visa discussions.
Due to his beliefs, Soyinka declared he wouldn’t attend any interview that day and planned to be elsewhere instead.
Finally, he criticized the current U.S. leadership, comparing it to oppressive figures from history, referring to it as a “white Idi Amin.”
