Two days after the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has hinted that he could implement his decision to tear his American green card.
Mr. Soyinka had said he would cut his card if Mr. Trump triumphs over his major challenger and candidate of the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, in the November 8 election.
“The moment they announce his [Trump’s] victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Mr. Soyinka told a gathering at Oxford University.
The comments immediately went viral on the internet.
As soon as it became clear that Mr. Trump had won the elections, many across the world began trolling the professor, with some propagating humour that he had denied making the promise.
But Mr. Soyinka came out on Thursday to clarify the status of his promise.
The professor hinted to The Interview newsmagazine that he could fulfil his promise on January 20 as soon as Mr. Trump is sworn in.
“Come January 20, 2017; watch my WOLEXIT! (Donald Trump will be sworn-in as the 45th President of the United States of America on Friday, January 20, 2017),” the Interview quoted Mr. Soyinka as saying.
He, however, did not clarify what WOLEXIT really meant.
The green card is a permanent residence permit issued by the United States, and is highly sought by Africans. If Mr. Soyinka destroys his, he could be denied entry into the United States, despite his status.
The magazine also said Mr. Soyinka disclosed when the possibility of Mr. Trump’s victory hit him, adding that he took some premium coffee to keep himself energised.
“As Election Day approached, the spectre became near palpable. I refused to switch on the television this morning until I had stiffened myself with a strong espresso,” Mr. Soyinka said. “I felt disaster in my marrow.”
The Nobel Laureate has been advised on the Internet to tear his green card on video, but it is not immediately clear if he would take the challenge.
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