Abuja, Nigeria — At a birthday celebration in Abuja, Nigeria’s Nobel Prize-winning writer, Wole Soyinka, praised politician Rotimi Amaechi for showing great courage during the 2022 presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at Amaechi’s 60th birthday party on Saturday, Soyinka told a crowd of guests that he admired Amaechi because he didn’t give up or back down, even when it seemed like everyone else was stepping aside for Bola Tinubu, who later became Nigeria’s president.
“I admire Rotimi Amaechi’s fighting spirit,” Soyinka said. “While watching the primaries from Abu Dhabi, I was excited to see him stand firm and refuse to quit.”
What Happened in 2022?
During the 2022 APC primary elections, 14 candidates were trying to become the party’s flag bearer — the person chosen to run for president. Bola Tinubu won with 1,271 votes. Rotimi Amaechi came second with 316 votes, while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
Many other candidates decided to quit and support Tinubu, but Amaechi didn’t. He stood his ground and stayed in the race until the very end. Soyinka said that moment showed what real democracy is — giving everyone a fair chance to speak and compete.
A Dose of His Own Medicine
Soyinka made a bold comparison. He said that years ago, Bola Tinubu had also refused to give up when former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to change the rules to stay in power longer. Tinubu resisted that move back then, and now, years later, someone else — Amaechi — stood strong against Tinubu during the APC primaries.
“It was like Tinubu got a taste of what he once did to someone else,” Soyinka said with a smile. “Amaechi reminded me of Tinubu during the Obasanjo time.”
Standing Up Even When It’s Hard
According to Soyinka, during the past, some state governors gave in to pressure because their funds were being cut off. But Tinubu didn’t — he stood his ground. Soyinka said he saw the same strength in Amaechi during the primaries.
“Everyone else was stepping aside, but Amaechi got on stage and said, ‘I’m not quitting,’” Soyinka said. “That’s the true spirit of democracy — staying strong, even when others back down.”
A Lesson for the Young
This story is a lesson for both adults and children. It teaches us that it’s important to stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re the only one doing it. Being brave, like Amaechi was, shows leadership and determination.
So, while Amaechi didn’t win that election, he won something else — respect for his courage. And that, Soyinka says, is something worth celebrating.
