‘Saddened But Indifferent’, Wole Soyinka Replies Rivers State Government

Yesterday, the Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Austin
Tam-George, said the government would begin a probe into an alleged N82m spent
on hosting Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka by the past administration led by
Rotimi Amaechi and if investigations showed the professor collected any money
in cash, he would be made to return it by using the influences of the Police
and EFCC, Mr Tam-George said yesterday.

However, in a statement, later yesterday, Mr.
Soyinka said the call for his probe was a form of corruption fighting back.

“This morning, I saw only the headlines in one or two print
media regarding the 80th Birthday dinner to which I was hosted by the former
governor of Rivers State, the Honorable Rotimi Amaechi, now Minister of
Aviation,” said Mr. Soyinka.

“I ignored them. It was not, and remains not my business to
probe into the catering and logistical implications of the hundreds of
institutions and governments all over the world to whom I acknowledge an
immense debt of unsolicited recognition over the years.

“Since then however, I have learnt of some unsavory
statements by the insecure incumbent of the Rivers State government Lodge.
These included a loose invitation to anti-crime agencies to investigate the
potential crime of being honoured through any occasion.”

Mr. Soyinka said the Rivers government’s claims was warning
he recounted in his recent publication, The Republic of Liars.

“Those words were: Corruption strikes back. In this ongoing
instance, that expression translates most vividly as ‘Those who are neck deep
in the sewage of corruption ensure that they splatter sewage in all possible
and improbable directions.’

“I do however fully support the Wikeleaks call for
multi-directional probes. I recommend further that he involve the services of
INTERPOL to guarantee its extension to all international organisations and
governments to whom I owe uncountable events of recognition – including
birthday luncheons, dinners, cultural receptions and events of real,
fictitious, or simply opportunistic flavoring – to which I have submitted
myself.

“The descent to this present level of abominable
distractions makes one truly despair. It is one that even I did not envisage
when I warned – corruption strikes back.

“Whether it brings honour or dishonour to the nation is
another matter – I am saddened, but indifferent.

“EFCC and company – over to you. You all know where I live.”