Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has reacted to the revocation of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s U.S. visa, describing it as an attempt to suppress dissenting voices.
Naija News earlier reported that Prof. Wole Soyinka revealed his American visa had been revoked by the United States government. The celebrated writer made the disclosure during a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, held at Freedom Park, themed “Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!”
Soyinka said he received an official revocation notice from the U.S. Consulate on Thursday, October 23, 2025, suggesting that the action might be linked to his outspoken criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies.
Reading the letter publicly, Soyinka said it partly read:
“Dear Mr. Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification of the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for application into the United States.”
Reacting via a post on his verified Facebook page, Ahmad Gumi compared the incident to his own experience when his Saudi visa was revoked, claiming that such actions target individuals who challenge authority.
“It reminds me of my Saudi visa revoke for no offence besides freedom of speech. Poor them. You can’t silence those who don’t need you to survive,” Gumi wrote.
The post has since stirred massive reactions online, with many Nigerians drawing parallels between both figures — one a global literary icon and the other a controversial Islamic cleric — united by claims of being silenced for their outspoken views.
As of press time, the U.S. Consulate has not issued any public statement addressing the reason behind Soyinka’s visa revocation.
