At the 60th birthday celebration of Rotimi Amaechi, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka commended the former Rivers State governor for displaying exceptional courage during the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries. Amaechi, who also served as Minister of Transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari, was praised for choosing not to step down for eventual winner and now-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the party’s presidential contest.

Soyinka, speaking at the event, revealed that he had closely followed the primary election from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and was deeply impressed by Amaechi’s decision to remain in the race despite overwhelming pressure. According to him, this act of resistance gave him a sense of mischievous satisfaction, particularly because it mirrored Tinubu’s own past defiance against powerful political forces during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Drawing a historical parallel, Soyinka recalled how Tinubu once stood firm against Obasanjo’s alleged attempt to amend the constitution and secure a controversial third term. Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos State, resisted federal pressure when statutory allocations were withheld from the state. Soyinka referred to Tinubu at the time as the “last man standing” in the face of political intimidation. However, during the APC primaries, Soyinka said Tinubu experienced a similar situation—being challenged by Amaechi in a bold act of political defiance.

Soyinka emphasized that Amaechi’s refusal to step aside represented the true spirit of democracy. “While others were quick to concede, one man stood firm and declared, ‘I didn’t come all the way here to commit lúle (failure),’” Soyinka noted. He praised Amaechi’s determination and described it as a crucial reminder of what democratic competition should look like.

In the primary election, Tinubu won with 1,271 votes, followed by Amaechi with 316 votes and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with 235 votes.