Nobel Laureate and literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka, has commended former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for his defiance and principle during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, describing it as a moment where President Bola Tinubu got “a taste of his own medicine.”
Soyinka delivered the remarks while serving as Chairman at Amaechi’s 60th birthday celebration, held over the weekend in Abuja.
In a speech that blended political commentary with sharp historical recollection, Soyinka lauded Amaechi’s resolve to remain in the presidential race despite pressure from political heavyweights to step down in favour of Tinubu.
“The main reason I had to be here is because I admire Rotimi’s fighting spirit, and it’s a very consistent one,” Soyinka said.
The Nobel laureate recalled watching the APC primary live from Abu Dhabi, expressing satisfaction at Amaechi’s refusal to withdraw, a decision he likened to Tinubu’s own past resistance during Nigeria’s democratic struggles.
“I watched the entire primary election live on TV. It gave me great, rascally pleasure to see the incumbent president receive a taste of his own medicine,” Soyinka noted.
Drawing a parallel with the early 2000s, Soyinka referred to Tinubu’s defiance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged third-term agenda, saying:
“Back then, Tinubu was the last man standing when others had been cowed by unconstitutional withholding of their allocations. He resisted. And now, Amaechi played that same role during the primaries.”
Unlike many aspirants who bowed out to back Tinubu, Amaechi, alongside a few notable figures such as former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and Rochas Okorocha, remained in the race until the final vote.
Amaechi eventually emerged as the runner-up behind Tinubu, who clinched the APC ticket and later won the 2023 presidential election.
Since that time, Amaechi had remained largely under the radar until recently, amid growing speculation about his involvement in an emerging political coalition.
Observers believe Amaechi and a group of dissident leaders within and outside the APC are preparing to challenge Tinubu’s hold on power in the 2027 general election.
Soyinka concluded his tribute by emphasizing the value of political courage in a thriving democracy:
“That is what democracy is all about—standing firm for your beliefs. Amaechi exemplified that spirit, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it unfold.”
