Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof. Tam David-West, has called on Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka to fulfil his vow by tearing his green card as he had vowed to should Donald J. Trump win.
During an Interview in Ibadan, David-West described Soyinka as a great and honourable man.
He said, “If Wole Soyinka does not follow through on his promise of tearing up his Green card and return to Nigeria, he would prove to be dishonourable.”
Soyinka was quoted to have said, “If in the unlikely event he (Trump) does win, the first thing he will do is to say all green card holders must reapply to come back into the US. Well, I’m not waiting for that. The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up.”
David-West noted that he was worried when Soyinka threatened to cut his green card, as it’s because of it he (Soyinka) can work in the US.
“The green card entitles him to work in the US. Without the green card, he cannot have a paid job in the US. It is because of the green card that he has a paid job in America, which translates to thousands of dollars for him; by conversion, it is millions of naira.” David-West said.
However, Donald Trump won the elections and will resume office in February 2017.
When Soyinka was asked when he would destroy his green card, he was quoted to have said;
“Why don’t we wait until Trump actually takes office? I am just going about my normal commitments. Let’s put it that way for now.”
David-West responded saying; “Now, he has changed his tone. When I read it, I was very upset. He is toying with the intelligence of Nigerians. He said (he’d destroy his green card) if Trump is elected President. The moment Hillary Clinton conceded defeat, Trump is elected. Immediately, Soyinka should have come back to Nigeria.”
David-West said Wole Soyinka should honourably cut his card and honourably return to Nigeria.
“I know Wole Soyinka is an honourable man. I am waiting for him to cut his green card and return to Nigeria honourably. In the first instance, he never said he would cut his green card when Donald Trump takes office. He said if he is elected President. So, Soyinka should honourably cut his card and honourably return to Nigeria,” David-West further stated.