Soyinka Applauds Amaechi’s Grit for Refusing to Step Aside for Tinubu at APC Primary
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka recently tipped his hat to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, commending his boldness during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary. Soyinka, speaking at an event in Abuja to mark Amaechi’s 60th birthday, recalled watching the primary from Abu Dhabi and being impressed by Amaechi’s refusal to bow out of the race, even under significant pressure.
Soyinka shared that his admiration for Amaechi’s fighting spirit is longstanding, but the primary cemented it. He confessed to feeling a mischievous pleasure watching Amaechi stand his ground, especially since it reminded him of a time when Tinubu himself had resisted similar political pressure during the Obasanjo era, pushing back against moves to alter the constitution for a third term.
Soyinka noted the irony: Tinubu, once the “last man standing” against constitutional overreach, was now on the receiving end of political resistance, courtesy of Amaechi. He found it refreshing to see a bit of poetic justice play out on the political stage.
He praised Amaechi’s decision not to withdraw, even as others were quick to endorse Tinubu, calling it a true display of democratic values and personal integrity. For Soyinka, Amaechi’s stance was a reminder that democracy thrives when individuals have the courage to stick to their convictions, even when the odds are stacked.
In the end, Tinubu clinched the APC ticket with 1,271 votes, while Amaechi finished second with 316 votes, and then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo came in third with 235. Still, Soyinka’s admiration was less about the numbers and more about Amaechi’s refusal to simply follow the crowd.