Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has revealed that the United States government has revoked his visa, thereby preventing his entry into the country for the time being.
Speaking on Tuesday, Soyinka expressed his surprise at the decision and said he had not been given prior indication before the revocation.
According to him, the American consulate recently issued a letter inviting him for a visa re-interview — an invitation he deemed “strange and bizarre” and decided not to attend.
He indicated that he had no intention of honouring the request, viewing the date and circumstances of the invitation as symbolic and poorly timed.
Despite the visa cancellation, Soyinka said he does not plan to retaliate and remains open to hosting American visitors in Nigeria, provided they approach him for legitimate reasons.
This development adds a new chapter to the long-standing and complex relationship between Soyinka and the United States, which includes his earlier decision to relinquish his U.S. green card in protest.