Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has explained why he turned down an invitation by the United States Consulate in Nigeria for a visa re-interview scheduled for Thursday, September 11.
Soyinka, in an interview with TheNews Online, described the invitation as “strange and bizarre,” noting that he initially thought the letter was a scam.
“I would like to begin by stressing the fact that, for me, this is not a personal issue. I have no idea how you got to know. By the way, I also have received the letter, which at first I thought was a fake. I thought it was these scammers who sort of prey on those eager to get visas elsewhere, with promise to deliver visas for a certain amount guaranteed,” he said.
The writer, who is among several Nigerians asked to appear for the reinterview, said he dismissed the idea of attending, stressing that he has no interest in chasing visas.
"So the question of going to such an interview is totally out of consideration,” Soyinka maintained.
He also criticised the Consulate’s decision to fix the exercise for September 11, a date he considers highly symbolic.
“This is a day which 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,” ....
Soyinka noted that although invitations from embassies are essentially government directives, he remains wary depending on who is in charge. Referring to the United States, he remarked, “It depends on which kind of government that is sending out such invitations, a ‘white Idi Amin’ is at the helm of affairs.”
Tribune
Soyinka, in an interview with TheNews Online, described the invitation as “strange and bizarre,” noting that he initially thought the letter was a scam.
“I would like to begin by stressing the fact that, for me, this is not a personal issue. I have no idea how you got to know. By the way, I also have received the letter, which at first I thought was a fake. I thought it was these scammers who sort of prey on those eager to get visas elsewhere, with promise to deliver visas for a certain amount guaranteed,” he said.
The writer, who is among several Nigerians asked to appear for the reinterview, said he dismissed the idea of attending, stressing that he has no interest in chasing visas.
"So the question of going to such an interview is totally out of consideration,” Soyinka maintained.
He also criticised the Consulate’s decision to fix the exercise for September 11, a date he considers highly symbolic.
“This is a day which 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,” ....
Soyinka noted that although invitations from embassies are essentially government directives, he remains wary depending on who is in charge. Referring to the United States, he remarked, “It depends on which kind of government that is sending out such invitations, a ‘white Idi Amin’ is at the helm of affairs.”
Tribune
Even if he change his mind to attend, US should not issue him o. He insulted the US.
ReplyDeleteWhite idi a min indeed! Yet legally resident Nigerians haven't been sent packing!@?
ReplyDeleteBeèni ó.........
ReplyDelete