Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has stated that he chose to leave the United States pre-emptively because he would “prefer to kick myself out” rather than be expelled, following the revocation of his visa by the US government.
In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, the renowned Nigerian author and playwright confirmed the recent cancellation of his B1/B2 visa and revealed that he had accurately predicted such actions would follow Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
“When that man comes to power, the first thing he will do is cancel even the green cards,” Professor Soyinka said, recounting his earlier forecast. “I had a horror of what is to come with Trump… I don’t like to be kicked out; I like to kick myself out. It’s more dignified.”
The visa revocation was communicated to the 91-year-old in a letter from the US Consulate in Lagos dated 23 October, which requested he surrender his passport for “physical cancellation” of the visa. Professor Soyinka described the request as “a joke.”
This development occurs amidst a significant diplomatic strain between Nigeria and the United States. Recently, President Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” making unsubstantiated claims of “Christian genocide” and threatening military intervention.
Professor Soyinka has a long history of criticism directed at Mr Trump. Ahead of the former president’s first inauguration in 2017, he publicly vowed to tear up his permanent resident card (Green Card), a pledge he later fulfilled.
“I have already done it, I have disengaged from the United States. I have done what I said I would do,” he stated at the time.
Further detailing the events leading to the visa revocation, Professor Soyinka disclosed that he had received a notification from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) informing him of a tax audit covering the previous five years. He stated that he subsequently visited the US Embassy in Lagos to regularise his travel documents in order to comply with the audit request.
He emphasised that he had no issue with the conduct of the embassy staff, who he said always treated him with courtesy.
The US Mission in Nigeria, when previously contacted for comment on the case, stated that it would not discuss individual visa details. A spokesperson noted that “visas are a privilege, not a right,” and can be revoked “at any time, at the discretion of the US government.”
Professor Soyinka told the BBC that he understood the revocation was a reaction to his anticipated criticism. “I knew I would not be able to resist making comments on what I knew would happen, and sure enough, he did not disappoint me,” he said.
The playwright has stated unequivocally that he will not reapply for a US visa.
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