Nigeria: Buhari's 'private' meeting with Wole Soyinka sets tongues wagging

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has received in audience the Nobel Laureate, playwright and poet, Professor Wole Soyinka at the presidential palace in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting held behind closed doors has gained the interest of Nigerian media who are curious to know what the no-nonsense government critic discussed with the president whom he had not spared.

Wole Soyinka has heavily criticised the Goodluck Jonathan government for not finding the 276 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.

Despite expressing support for Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 election and also in the fight against corruption, he criticised his government for inefficiency in handling violent activities of herdsmen in the country.

The presidency did not issue a statement as it is the norm after the meeting and President Buhari tweeted that they had a lot to talk about without giving a hint.

Professor Wole Soyinka visited this morning. We had quite a lot to talk about. pic.twitter.com/0XJHozHIO0

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 11, 2016

The president’s personal assistant, Bashir Ahmad also said the discussion was about Nigeria.

Today, in the President's Office, President MBuhari and Professor Wole Soyinka had a long discussion about #Nigeria pic.twitter.com/cvtm5GUWpD

— Bashir Ahmad (BashirAhmaad) August 11, 2016

Nigerian local media, Channels Television reported that Wole Soyinka told reporters he had come to see the president on “some national, international and general matters”.

“I will be holding a press conference in about a week. You can ask me any question then, but now, please I will just like to get away,” he was quoted as saying.

“Right now, please, I will like to get away,” Wole Soyinka tells reporters. https://t.co/z26NWAZCoP pic.twitter.com/DkwtYr99iL

— Channels Television (@channelstv) August 11, 2016

Punch Nigeria however reported that before uttering the few words after the meeting he attempted escaping from the media saying: “I didn’t come to see you people”.

Others are speculating but the truth remains behind closed doors till otherwise.

Why I Met Buhari – Wole Soyinka | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/LAJJORK3hq

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) August 11, 2016

{FLASH}I Will Be Holding A Press Conference Next Week-Wole Soyinka Avoids Journalists https://t.co/hCauNf5cFh

— BiafraSay Forum (@BiafrasayForum) August 11, 2016