Wole Soyinka blasts critics - 'You can’t stampede me over green card'

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has reacted to the criticism that has trailed his vow to destroy his United States residency permit should Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump emerge President.


The Nobel laureate described those taunting him over his statement as “literalists” who obsess over a time scheme of their own assessment. He said while it is true that he made the statement while addressing a group of students at Oxford University and fielding questions, he is not about to be stampeded into doing what his critics want.

“Thus, failure to have torn my Green Card “the moment” that I learnt that Mr. Donald Trump had won the presidential elections of the USA. It did not matter what I was doing at the time – teaching, eating, swimming, praying, under the shower or whatever. Or a family member saying, “Wait for me!” – speculatively please, no such disturbance ever took place. If it did however, I am supposed to contact the Nigerian media – to whom I have never spoken, and who never contacted me – except one – to beg permission to pursue a realistic definition of “the moment”.

Media fascism is however a subject for another day. For now, that moment having passed, I must be culpable of breaking a solemn promise. By the way, since we are on the terrain of literalism, has anyone attempted to “tear” or rip apart a Green Card? Even a Credit Card? For the average hands, that would take some doing! I have actually considered garden shears for a dramatic resolution, this being closer to my real profession,” Soyinka said.

The literature icon said he has been asked several times if he would still carry out his promise to tear his card as he said. According to Soyinka, his answer to this question remains a categorical ‘Yes’.

“I have been asked several times – interestingly only by the foreign media, with the exception of THE INTERVIEW – whether indeed I did make such a statement at any time, and whether I still intended to carry it out, and the answer remains a categorical ’Yes’.

Speaking further, Soyinka said, “nonetheless, did I mean what I said – that is, ’exiting’ the USA? Absolutely, and that is the very theme of this address. It will not attempt to deal with the notion of an exit time-table as conceived by others, as if even the incumbent US president and his replacement are not even permitted over two months to pack their bags and prepare to move in and out of the White House, but must exchange positions the very moment that a winner was proclaimed.

“Anyone would think that the Brexit Vote made it imperative for the Brits to plunge into the English Channel instantly, instead of negotiating two years for an orderly withdrawal. Plebeians like me of course need far less time, nevertheless they do not uproot overnight. Any other proposition speaks of a permanent agenda, of frustration and hidden histories – such as opportunities to rehabilitate themselves in the public eye.

“There is also recession in the land, and I can understand the psychology of impotence and thus, transferred aggression. Let it be understood – before I move even one word further – that I interrupted my present commitment in the United States solely for an urgent meeting with the Ooni of Ife on an ongoing project. I am obliged to return to the US in a matter of two or three days to complete my interrupted mission. Fortunately, that mission is guaranteed to end long before the United States becomes Trumpland Real Estate.”

Soyinka, who wondered why his statement generated such negative criticism, said he is not disturbed by the development as, according to him, his temperament requires a certain minimum level of environmental health to function properly.

Offering an insight into why he made the statement that has seen him severely criticised by social media commentators across the globe.

He added, “I followed the fluctuating poll statistics. I began to warn my colleagues, friends, my family: listen, this thing is happening right before our very eyes. This is how it begins, how humanity ends up with Cambodia, with Rwanda, with Da’esh. We are watching a Hitlerite phenomenon. We are witnessing history in reverse, unravelling before a complacent world. I said to them, if this man wins, I am relocating.
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  1. Y not tear d stuff and spear us all dis grammar. U must be a man of ur words dats d kinds of politicians dat besiege our country promise and fail. Agbaya.

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  2. Kongi you are an elder ooo! What example are you setting for young generation. Literalism or not you must tear it oooo!
    @#soyinkatearitnow#

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    1. U have a big duty on ur hand, pls go and tear it 4 him. Big mumu.

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    2. MUMU anonymous @7:24AM, I am on my way on to the USA, behalf of Isiaka and many reasonable Zoogerians to get Kongi's GC and Obasanjored it before the whole world. MUMU!

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  3. Who is interested in all this grammar. Tear the card joor. After all, you did not speak these grammar when you were making the promise.

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  4. Don't worry Mr sonyinka,Trump knows how to render that useless green card of urs invalid kkkkkkkkkkkkk mugu

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  5. Don't worry Mr sonyinka,Trump knows how to render that useless green card of urs invalid kkkkkkkkkkkkk mugu

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  6. For all the patriotic zeal for Nigeria and Africa that you tout, you prefer to be a citizen of a foreign land. I am disappointed in you, Wole!

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  7. Uncle Wole.. Little they know of abstracts !

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  8. No mind am with him old afro hair cut why won't you just shut up when u where needed to do so

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  9. Kongi is in a self imposed quagmire! Let's see how he wriggles out of it. By us, I mean the recession induced impotent plebeians! Hahahaha. Abegi tear the card jare if you are a man of your words or down as a bloody liar. The choice is entirely yours, but I suspect, nay I can safely predict the direction of this wind and it alarms me even as I contemplate it.

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  10. Trump talks anyhow
    Wole Soyinka talks anyhow
    Trump's talks paid off
    Wole Soyinka's talk backfired
    Trump is enjoying his victory openly
    Wole Soyinka is dying silently
    A lesson to all of us

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  11. This what happen when we try to play God because it is only God that knows tomorrow. Making statement or promises over what we do not have control over can be very embarrassing. Let us forgive our elder statesman even when the courage is not there to accept that he goofed.

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  12. Wole Soyinka, your fellow professor from Prinston university who promised to eat a Bug if Trump wins has done that publicly on CNN, so I beg dont disgrace that your afro, just go to CNN and tear that your green card honorably and publicly. We are waiting and watching.

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  13. Wole! these are your exact words

    “The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,”

    Wole, the victory has been announced, please, shamelessly tear that card and let us see how it affects Trump or the Americans. You are nothing but an old man who can not tame his tongue but go about disgracing responsible African elders. For your information, the students you made the statement to are waiting for you tear the green card.

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    1. Na wawo! Wonders shall never end!

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    2. Uncle Wole, talk is cheap and action is the-man. Please practice what you preach and seemingly stand for. If u don't want to do it on CCN, Call a press conference and do the needful. Be the-man uncle, be the-man.

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  14. Prof Wole is a shameless old man who can't be trusted.

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  15. Shaolin master, I believe ur hair follicle are taping into your brain and using up the reasonableness in it. Rather than all these English speaking Simply say it was to show how sure U were that Trump cannot win the election and not that you will literally tear your green card everyone will understand cos 90% if not including Trump never expected he would win. He was only just seeing the election through and it went his way. That is how old men manoeuvre there way out of these kind if bet u placed on yourself. Alika.

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  16. Wole is a shameless old man,old age is affecting d secret cult founder.

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  17. said so much but said nothing. He beats about the bush, lost and confused. Too many grammar at times cause momentary madness, that's exactly what happened when he made the statement

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