Nobel Laureate and academic, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says President Bola Tinubu ignored his advice not to run for presidency in 2023.

Soyinka, who paid a courtesy visit to Tinubu, at his Lagos home yesterday, said he was there to see how the Tinubu and his wife were doing after ignoring his advice.

The literary professor said, “I came here with a seven-point agenda. And we had a very thorough discussion on those items,” Soyinka told journalists after the visit.

“Actually, it’s an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office. I told Atiku and himself to please leave the ground so young people could run. That’s the last time we met about five years ago.

“So I came to see how he was doing after ignoring my advice. I came to see how both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria, and to wish them a Happy Christmas.”

Soyinka noted that he will assess Tinubu’s administration after one year.

“Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most heads of state, when they take office, I always leave them alone for about the first year…Because they need time.

I know when they come in, they don’t start from ground zero. They often start even lower than ground zero and they have to make up.

“So, I’m adopting the same principle this time. When you see me next year, ask the same question again and listen to my answer,” he added.