I have destroyed my American 'green card’ – Wole Soyinka

Nobel prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said Thursday he has fulfilled his pledge to throw away his US residency green card and leave the country if Donald Trump won the presidential election.


Shortly before the vote, Soyinka had vowed to give up his permanent US residency over a Trump victory to protest against the Republican billionaire’s campaign promises to get tough on immigration.

“I have already done it, I have disengaged (from the United States). I have done what I said I would do,” the 82-year-old said on the sidelines of an education conference at the University of Johannesburg.

“I had a horror of what is to come with Trump… I threw away the (green) card, and I have relocated, and I’m back to where I have always been” — meaning his homeland Nigeria.

The prolific playwright, novelist and poet won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 and has been a regular teacher at US universities including Harvard, Cornell and Yale.

At the same time he said he would not discourage others from applying for a green card.

“It’s useful in many ways. I wouldn’t for one single moment discourage any Nigerians or anybody from acquiring a green card… but I have had enough of it,” he said.

Soyinka, one of Africa’s most famous writers and rights activists, was jailed in 1967 for 22 months during Nigeria’s civil war.

He was reported to have recently completed a term as scholar-in-residence at New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs.
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  1. With some proof to be sure that u are saying the truth, I'm curious

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  2. Yoruba for LIFE! Make we see evidence of the 'Obasanjoed' green card.

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  3. Donald trump the newly president elect could have rendered your green card useless if you have not done that. But you are a shameless man.

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  4. Don't worry. Amaechi will give you consultancy jobs here where you can rake in billions as APC kingpin

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  5. This man has no shame. America is in ur blood. You opened ur wide mouth to say bull in public and then u want us to believe u did the deed in in secret. No guts to swallow ur pride and ask for forgiveness. Wish I never even read ur books as you have shown you are just hollow.

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  6. Well done 4 leaving up 2 ur word.

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  7. Destroying your green card or not has nothing to do with Nigerians and by doing so will not take Nigeria out of recession. One thing for sure is we don't want to hear you are in America for one lecture or treatment. Cos by so doing your days are numbered.

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  8. Whatever you put forward shall be rewarded by God. Those commentators that abuse this old man on this platform shall pay for it in future.

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  9. You have already seen it all at 82yrs. You have made your mark everywhere. Even if you leave America other countries are ready to accept you. It is only people like you that can do this. I RESPECT YOU.

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