Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has reacted to reports of the revocation of his United States visa and clarified his position on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying he prefers to remain silent for now to avoid misinterpretation.

In an interview with BBC News Yoruba, published on Facebook on Tuesday, the literary icon said he would not make any public assessment of the current administration until he considers it appropriate to do so.

“I have been asked that question by several people,” Soyinka said in Yoruba. “I don’t want to answer because it seems as if there’s nothing one says that won’t be twisted, and I’m tired of that. So, I want to take my time. When it’s time, I will write my view on that.”

Known for his outspoken nature and history of activism, Soyinka said he would express his views only when necessary.

The playwright also addressed the controversy surrounding his U.S. visa, confirming that the embassy had revoked it and requested that he bring his passport for cancellation a request he dismissed as “a joke.”

“If you read the letter sent to me by the embassy, they wrote that I should bring my passport for them to stamp it so it shows that it has been cancelled. They are jokers,” he said.

“I should take my passport to those who revoked my visa? I told them they should come to my house, take the passport themselves, and stamp it. So, I cannot say I’ll be applying again or sitting down to fill out any form, whether online or having to go there no.”

Soyinka added that he bears no ill feelings toward the American people but maintained that he would not make any effort to renew his visa.

“But if they want because I’m not fighting the American people, no if in the future they realise that they made a mistake and ask me to come and take my visa back, I will say they should bring it to my house. And before you come to my house, you will need a visa to enter,” he said.

The professor had earlier disclosed during a media briefing at Freedom Park, Lagos, that the revocation prevented him from attending scheduled events in the United States.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Consulate in Lagos reiterated that visas are a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the American government.