Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has lauded former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for standing his ground during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, describing his defiance as a bold democratic stance and a “dose of his own medicine” for President Bola Tinubu.
Soyinka made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja while speaking at Amaechi’s 60th birthday celebration. He commended Amaechi’s fighting spirit, recalling how the former Rivers State governor refused to step down during the high-stakes primaries, despite immense political pressure.
“I watched the primaries live from Abu Dhabi,” Soyinka said. “It gave me great — most malicious, rascally if you like — pleasure to see the incumbent president being given a dose of his own medicine.”
According to Soyinka, Amaechi’s refusal to concede was reminiscent of Tinubu’s own defiance during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when Tinubu stood his ground against alleged moves to alter the constitution for a third term.
“He [Tinubu] was the last man standing when he resisted the constitutional manipulation for a third term. Well, he got a taste of that same resistance from Amaechi during the APC primaries,” Soyinka said.
He added, “While everyone else was stepping aside, Amaechi got on the podium and said, ‘No, I’m not conceding. I didn’t come all the way here to commit lúlẹ̀ (collapse).’ That, for me, is what democracy is about.”
In the 2022 APC primary, Tinubu emerged victorious with 1,271 votes. Amaechi came second with 316 votes, while then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo garnered 235 votes.
Soyinka’s comments drew applause from the audience, highlighting the enduring impact of principled political resistance in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
