When Democracy Becomes Tribal: Soyinka’s Selective Acceptance?

June 16, 2025

By: Grassrootsmirro

In Nigeria’s complex political landscape, few figures command as much intellectual reverence as Professor Wole Soyinka. A Nobel Laureate, outspoken critic of authoritarianism, and global advocate for justice, Soyinka has long positioned himself as a moral compass in the nation’s civic discourse. But his recent acceptance of a national award from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — after previously rejecting a similar offer from President Goodluck Jonathan — raises uncomfortable questions about consistency, credibility, and perhaps even tribal bias.

FLASHBACK TO 2014

Back in 2014, Soyinka vehemently declined an award from President Jonathan, citing concerns over governance failures, impunity, and widespread insecurity, especially the abduction of the Chibok girls. His stance was celebrated by many as a noble act of principle, a refusal to lend his credibility to a government he believed had lost its moral right to honor citizens.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the same Soyinka has graciously accepted an award from President Tinubu — a leader critics often describe as more undemocratic, more autocratic, and more ethnically polarizing than his predecessor. Under Tinubu's rule, press freedom has been throttled, protests have been suppressed, and several opposition voices have been detained or harassed. The economic hardship has worsened, and many Nigerians feel alienated by policies seen as favoring select regions or ethnic groups.

So, what changed?

Is it that Nigeria's democracy has suddenly improved under Tinubu? Or has Soyinka’s famed objectivity slipped beneath the weight of ethnic loyalty or political favoritism? For many observers, the contradiction is striking and disturbing. While it's fair to allow any public figure the room to evolve or reevaluate their stances, such a dramatic shift demands explanation, especially from someone who has held others to such high moral standards.

Critics are now asking: was Soyinka’s past moral protest merely political theatre? Or is his latest move an act of tribal solidarity cloaked in intellectual prestige?

In a nation as divided and fragile as Nigeria, the symbolic actions of its most revered thinkers carry enormous weight. When democracy becomes tribal when principles appear to bend based on who holds the office, we risk reducing our national conscience to a regional echo chamber. And if even Soyinka is not immune, then who among us truly is ?

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