Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka disclosed on Wednesday that he will not honour an invitation by the United States Consulate in Nigeria to a visa reinterview scheduled for today, Thursday, September 11.
He said he initially thought it was the handiwork of scammers.
The literary icon revealed this in an exclusive interview with TheNEWS/PMNEWS while reacting to the American Consulate’s recent invitation to Nigerians with B1/B2 visas to go to the American Consulate for a visa reinterview.
Soyinka, one of many Nigerians invited to that interview, noted that he had initially thought it was fake and a fraudulent move by scammers whose stock in trade is to dupe unsuspecting Nigerians.
He said, “I would like to begin by stressing that this is not a personal issue. I have no idea how you got to know. By the way, I also received the letter, which I thought was fake at first. I thought these scammers prey on those eager to get visas elsewhere, with promises to deliver visas for a certain amount guaranteed. I thought they just picked my name among others because they knew there was a list of those who had been invited.
“So, at the beginning, I thought it was advance fee fraud because I had never received that kind of letter from that or any other embassy. I thought that maybe AI has been generating generic letters. It was very strange. So, when I came to terms with the fact that this letter is genuine, my mind just went to my relationship with individual ambassadors, Consul-Generals and Cultural Attachés. As you know, it’s always been a courteous relationship.”
The distinguished writer added that he has more important things to do than chase visas for places he doesn’t want to go to and where he is not wanted, saying, “So the question of going to such an interview is totally out of consideration.”
He noted that the date, 9/11, the American Consulate had chosen for the proposed interview, which happened to be a day very critical for the United States, was suspicious.
Soyinka maintained that he is a bit superstitious not just for the United States but for the rest of the world, given what that date signifies. He affirms that the day should be regarded as a day of national mourning, for deep, sober reflection, rather than for the perpetuation of ignoble motives such as an invitation for a visa reinterview.
He said, “In addition, I am a little bit superstitious of being given a significant date, not just for the United States but the rest of the world. I’m talking about 9/11. This is a day that I have always considered very critical for the United States, especially. To me, 9/11 should be regarded as a day of national mourning, of atonement by the Consulate of the United States.
“They should close down offices on that day, not to keep inviting people to come and have their visas taken away. It should be a day of reflection, of serious, deep thinking, considering so many things. I think that, on that day, the United States should shut down completely and universally. If they don’t shut down, at least I would shut down my relationship with them on that day because I’m very superstitious. I’m not going anywhere near there on 9/11. I will be airborne somewhere”
He explained that even though he considers invitations by embassies to be invitations from governments, it depends on which kind of government is sending them. He pointed out that the United States, for instance, has a “white Idi Amin” at the helm of affairs.
Soyinka, who said he is wary of such invitations because of his safety, added that, “Are we looking in the case of the United States, at the white Idi Amin, for instance? If you look very closely at the conduct, the behaviour, and the mentality of the incumbent president, you will find out there are Idi Amins of different colours. And if Idi Amin says I should come to his embassy, I would think twice before going because I don’t know what awaits me on the other side of the door.
“So I’m afraid I would have to, as the Americans say, take a rain check on this invitation, and certainly I’m not going there on 9/11. No way. Maybe individuals, small, minuscule actions like this, here and there, collectively, institutionally and so on may enable the American people to embark on this process of deep introspection, which is really to review their position with the rest of the world and how the world looks at them, especially at this critical period of world affairs.”
He said the United States needs an exorcist now: “So that’s all I want to say on that subject. But there is a lot more to say in the future. We can now sit down objectively and analytically and ask what has happened or is happening to the United States of America, perhaps at various conferences of writers, philosophers, and psychologists. Because maybe what the United States needs right now is an exorcist. It could be. We never can tell. But I’m a bit superstitious. I’m not going there on 9/11.’’
He said he was happy that the invitation for visa reinterview happened, “because it enabled us to examine so many facets of relationships between travellers from one country and another. And the possibility that somebody who’s made a home, made a living, a legitimate living elsewhere, obeys the laws and so on, wakes up someday and gets to the airport and then is told ‘you cannot rejoin your existence in another country.’ It must be a horrible thing.
“People like me are privileged because we are nomadic anyway. But those who actually built homes there and are suddenly told you cannot continue living there, I find it horrifying, inhuman and dehumanising.”
