by Dolapo Adelana
The candidacy of Donald J. Trump as the presidential nominee of the Republican Party in the American elections came as a surprise to many.
Not many ever thought Trump, a businessman with no political experience will floor seasoned politicians to emerge as the party’s candidate.
But alas! He did, beating sixteen (nine of which were past or present governors, and five senators) other candidates as he became the candidate of the GOP.
After his emergence as the GOP candidate, the next step was for Trump to falter against whoever the Democrats presented as its candidate – be it Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
Yet again! He proved doubters and naysayers wrong as he went on to beat Hillary Clinton in a historic victory at the November 9 polls to emerge president-elect of the United States.
We wonder how Professor Wole Soyinka got himself into the whole Donald Trump and green card issue.
The Nobel Laureate was on the lips of the many as the US election wore on, not because he was a candidate but because of a statement he made on what he would do if Trump wins.
Here is a timeline of events of what Prof. Soyinka has done and said so far:
November 3, 2016: While delivering a speech to students of Oxford University, the respected author without any provocation (maybe he had one) said he would destroy his green card if Trump wins. It was a shocker as many wondered what the correlation was between a Trump victory and the destruction of a green card (something many are praying and fasting to get).
November 9, 2016: On the day when Trump was elected, Soyinka was faced with a barrage of messages, especially on social media, as many expected a livefeed of the Nobel Laureate tearing his green card. But many were left disappointed as he did no such thing. Soyinka released a statement that day saying he would destroy his green card when Trump is sworn in. And the wait for Wolexit began. January 20, 2017, the set date.
November 12, 2016: Following continuous uproar that he had yet to fulfil his promise, as many were not buying the Wolexit date. Soyinka came on the offensive as he released a statement, titled, “Red card, green card– Notes towards the management of hysteria”. The author took time out to tear into shreds those who were “pressurising” him to tear his green card, saying his decision was a private discussion in the first place, and he did not give a specific date as to when it would be carried out.
December 1, 2016: As many set their eyes on January 20, 2017, Soyinka brought Christmas early for some as he announced during an interview with AFP that he had destroyed his green card. Well, there is really no proof (we want to see a video of him destroying it, like we saw when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo tore his PDP membership card) if he has really fulfilled his promise, but we would take the profilic playwright at his word.
Now that Soyinka has ‘destroyed’ his green card, I believe we can and should put this issue to rest.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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