The renown playwright and Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has described the present anti-corruption war being fought by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the biggest in the history of Nigeria. He also said he was ready for the arrest of the antigraft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC over allegation against him and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi over sharing of N85 million, Nairaleak understands
Soyinka made this disclosure when the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid him a courtsey visit at the Freedom Park, Lagos.
Soyinka, in his speech, said President Muhammadu Buhari was fighting the biggest anti-corruption war in Nigerian history.
He also commended the progress the President has so far made in the fight against graft especially in the $2.1bn arms scam.
The playwright said it was unfortunate that during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, money earmarked to fight terrorism was embezzled while children were abducted and soldiers sent to the warfront to combat terrorists without arms.
When asked if the anti-corruption war would stop abruptly like those of previous administrations, Soyinka said, “I don’t think that will happen this time and the reason is this: We have not had corruption being exposed on this scale before. We have not had a situation where it is being alleged and increasingly proved that money which was supposed to have been spent on defending our nation, ourselves and our neighbourhood has been shared among individuals.
“We have never had the experience where we were in a state of critical emergency where children were being kidnapped under our noses and we were helpless and our soldiers were being sent to the warfront to defend our very existence and we were not backing them up with conduct that shows integrity and commitment.
“During the civil war, I am not aware, may be it existed on this scale, I am not aware but I am just saying that as somebody that has gone through a civil war, even though some of us spent it in prison, I have not heard such exposé.”
Soyinka noted that the anti-graft war would not be easy because whenever anyone fights corruption, corruption fights back.
He, however, said plans by corrupt individuals to frustrate the anti-graft war would only intensify the war.
Asked if the anti-graft war would yield positive results, he said, “Yes, I am confident. I promise you that if I am proven wrong, I will give you my best bottle of wine.”
Reacting to allegations levelled against him by the Governor Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government that he partook in the sharing of N84m allegedly mismanaged by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Soyinka said the allegation was insulting.
He said he was waiting for an invitation letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Nobel laureate, however, joked that he would pretend to be sick if they attempted to whisk him away.
He added, “Anybody who wants to talk to me about this issue, as I said, you know where I live, I am a great respecter of the law. If you go properly, I will answer your invitation.”.