Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has praised former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi for demonstrating courage by refusing to step down for President Bola Tinubu during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary contest in 2022.
Soyinka made the remarks at Amaechi’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja, saying he was impressed by Amaechi’s defiance during the primary election.
The playwright revealed that he watched the event live from Abu Dhabi and was pleased to see Amaechi resist pressure to concede.
Soyinka drew parallels between Amaechi’s actions and Tinubu’s own defiance during the Olusegun Obasanjo era, when Tinubu resisted efforts to amend the constitution to allow for a third term.
He said Amaechi’s decision to stay in the race was a testament to the principles of democracy.
Amaechi, who served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, polled 316 votes to come second in the primary election, behind Tinubu’s 1,271 votes. Soyinka’s praise for Amaechi’s courage has highlighted the former minister’s commitment to democratic principles.