WASHINGTON: The United States government has permanently revoked the visa of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, in what he described as a likely response to his past criticisms of former US President Donald Trump.
According to a report, Soyinka disclosed the development during a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, October 28, themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin in Whiteface! held at the Freedom Park, Lagos.
He revealed that he received the official letter of visa revocation on Thursday, October 23, from the US Consulate in Lagos, adding that the move appeared to be politically motivated.
The letter, which he read aloud, stated: Dear Mr. Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked in accordance with the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for travel into the United States.
Additional information became available after the visa was issued. This revocation refers only to the visa listed below.
Name of Visa Holder: SOYINKA, WOLE
Date and Place of Birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA
Visa Classification: B1/B2
Date and Place of Issuance: 02-APR-2024, LAGOS.
Soyinka, however, maintained that he holds no grudge against the US government or its citizens, stressing that he continues to welcome Americans to his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He described himself as a global citizen who will never stop speaking against racism, injustice, and bad governance, whether in the US or elsewhere.
It will be recalled that in December 2016, the renowned playwright tore his US Green Card shortly after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, saying he could not live under Trump’s administration.
Despite the visa revocation, Soyinka reaffirmed his commitment to his principles, saying that freedom of expression remains a core value he will continue to uphold
