Reactions have continued to trail the permanent revocation of the American visa of Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka.
Soyinka had disclosed that his American Visa had been revoked permanently.
Soyinka, who read the letter of Visa Permanent Revocation in a media parley held in Lagos, said he received the letter last Thursday, October 23rd. He said the development seemed like he was being witch-hunted because of his stand against American President Donald Trump’s policy.
It would be recalled that in December 2016, the author, poet and playwright tore his Green Card after President Donald Trump won his election for his first term in office.
Speaking at a media parley held at Freedom Park, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 27, with the theme ‘Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!’ Soyinka, who now resides in Nigeria, read the letter from the US Nigeria Consulate in Lagos.
”Dear Mr Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States. Additional information became available after the visa below 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 (symbol): B1/B2; Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos,” the letter read partly.
He said, “I must hold this conference so that people in the United States who expect me for this event do not waste their time.
“I have no visa; I am obviously banned from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.
“I am still looking into my history… I don’t have any past criminal record or even a felony or misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation.
“I have started looking back, have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Do I have a history? Have I been convicted? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”
The literary icon, who noted that he had been using the B1/B2 classification visa to travel to the United States, has had it permanently revoked.
He stated that he does not have hard feelings due to this development and will continue to welcome Americans to his house in Abeokuta. He has no issues with the people or the nation, but as a global citizen, he will continue to speak against racism and what he feels is wrong with government policies, including Donald Trump’s.
“I will continue to welcome any American to my home if they have anything legitimate to do with me,” Soyinka affirmed.
Wole Soyinka: Each Country Has Right To Grant, Revoke Visa
Two prominent Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Nigeria, have reacted to the United States government’s revocation of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s non-immigrant visa.
The leader of the CSOs, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, said each country has the right to grant and revoke its visa, adding that the U.S. government’s action is not a big deal, more so, Soyinka is not a Nigerian official.
He cited examples of African leaders such as the late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who the American government blacklisted. In contrast, countries like Mali and Kenya suffered similar circumstances.
Rafsanjani said that if Nigerian authorities are concerned, they should negotiate to prevent such a situation from arising.
“Each country has the right to grant and not to. You understand? Especially for a non-official person. This shouldn’t be a big deal because millions of Nigerians have been denied visas. Their visas have also been revoked.
“They have revoked many Nigerians’ visas. They have revoked many other countries’ visas. You are not a government official. You understand? The U.S. does not look at that; even if you are a government official, you know how the U.S. treats people. They don’t give them that kind of priority or regard that you are discussing.
“Mandela was not only stopped from the U.S. In fact, they put his name as a terrorist. They blacklisted Mandela. The thing is that they have their own laws. They have their own policies. At any time, they can decide to do whatever they want.
“The best thing is for Nigeria to negotiate a way out of this. You can’t sue them. You can’t take them to court. Since you can’t take them to court, you can only negotiate and dialogue as a nation. For your country to have a better deal, it should lift the sanctions on Mali. They just removed the sanctions against Mali.
“So, if Nigerian officials are interested and committed, they will negotiate and get that done. So, for me, it is about Nigeria as a country making an effort to ensure that this thing is lifted. Let Nigeria negotiate. Let Nigeria’s dialogue ensure that whatever constraint is lifted.”
U.S. Acted Within Its Rights on Soyinka’s Green Card — CUPP
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has described the United States Government’s procedural response to Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s symbolic tearing of a green card as a legitimate exercise of U.S. sovereignty and due process under international norms.
In a phone interview with LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, the National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said the incident underscores the importance of respecting national laws and the sanctity of official documents.
“Professor Soyinka had publicly promised to tear up his legally issued American green card—a gesture that, while symbolic, constituted a direct challenge to the integrity of that nation’s legal documents.
“He followed through on this promise, and the subsequent procedural response by American authorities serves as a clear affirmation that no disrespect to a country’s sovereignty will be tolerated,” he said.
The coalition, however, emphasised that its position does not diminish Nigerians’ respect and admiration for Professor Soyinka, describing him as “a global icon of intellect, courage, and moral leadership.”
It noted that the U.S. government’s action was a “routine administrative response consistent with international standards,” stressing that every nation has a duty to uphold the sanctity of its legal instruments.
The group also called on Nigerians to take the incident as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding national dignity.
“Similarly, CUPP will frown upon and condemn any act undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty or desecrating its official documents. The integrity of national symbols and instruments must always be protected,” it added.
The coalition reiterated its commitment to promoting mutual respect among nations and urged continued dialogue between Nigeria and its international partners in the spirit of global cooperation and shared values.
Group Condemns U.S. Revocation of Soyinka’s Visa, Decries ‘Silencing of Dissenting Voices’
Also, the Women in Leadership and Development Initiative (WIELD-I) has expressed strong concern over the reported revocation of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s United States visa, describing the move as a disturbing attempt to stifle dissent and intellectual freedom.
Comrade Amarachi Okeke, the coordinator of WIELD-I, said the decision represents “a troubling erosion of respect for dissenting voices, especially from prominent Nigerian figures.”
“As the Coordinator of WIELD-I, I view the revocation of Wole Soyinka’s U.S. visa as deeply troubling and emblematic of a broader erosion of respect for dissenting voices. While sovereign nations have the legal prerogative to grant or cancel visas, doing so under vague grounds of ‘additional information’ without transparency smacks of intimidation and censorship,” she said.
The group warned that the action sends a “chilling message” to Nigerian intellectuals, activists, and artists that independent thought and criticism may attract punitive consequences.
“This action sends a chilling message not only to Soyinka but to all Nigerian intellectuals, activists, and artists: critique and freedom of thought may have consequences,” she stated.
The organisation reaffirmed its solidarity with Professor Soyinka, describing him as a global symbol of courage, justice, and artistic excellence.
“WIELD-I stands firmly in solidarity with Prof. Soyinka and condemns any move that undermines open dialogue, academic freedom, and the dignity of voices that challenge power, whether domestic or foreign,” she added.
WIELD-I called on the United States government to reconsider its decision and uphold its long-standing commitment to free speech, human rights, and cultural exchange.
