Wole Soyinka Criticizes the U.S. Capitol Riot and Trump’s Influence

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has publicly expressed his sadness over the unprecedented storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. In a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, Soyinka condemned the act, marking it as a dark moment in American democracy. For the first time in the country’s history, a collective group of citizens invaded their congress, challenging the very foundations of their democratic system.

Reflecting on the event, Soyinka lamented the erosion of values in what he once considered a strong democratic nation. “For a democratic nation that one considers to be strong, for the citizens to invade their parliament, that is a cause of sadness for me,” Soyinka said. He also expressed personal disappointment, noting how he had often visited the U.S. in the past due to his close ties with literary and artistic communities there.

Soyinka was not entirely shocked by the events that unfolded. He attributed the violence to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, especially his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election. Soyinka observed that Trump had repeatedly indicated his unwillingness to concede, which Soyinka believed signaled that such an incident was bound to occur.

Further, Soyinka offered a critical view of Trump’s leadership, stating that the January 6th storming confirmed his belief that Trump exhibited signs of mental instability. He added that Trump’s downplaying of the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to the crisis, leading to unnecessary loss of life.

As the world reflects on the U.S. Capitol riot and its aftermath, Soyinka’s comments serve as a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the destructive power of unchecked political influence.