Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday alleged that the Olusegun Obasanjo administration ‘protected’ those who murdered Nigeria’s former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Bola Ige.

Mr Soyinka, playwright and social critic, made this known in a statement on Tuesday titled “Trivialise Corruption, Neutralise Justice”, issued in his capacity as convener of Citizen Forum.

The statement comes against the background of the crisis rocking the judiciary following the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, over his failure to declare his assets.

Mr Soyinka, who said impunity reigns where there is no justice, expalined

that the present crisis in the judiciary shows that the nation and its leaders did not learn from the murder of the late Mr Ige and “the manner investigations into his death were handled”.

Mr Ige served first as Minister of Power and later as Minister of Justice under



Mr Obasanjo, who governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

He was murdered in December 2002 in his home in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

Mr Soyinka Mr Obasanjo’s government knew the killers of the late minister and politician and indeed allegedly protected and rewarded them.

“The government at the time of Ige’s killers know the truth. That government protected – I repeat – protected, and rewarded his killers. Those who wish to dispute this had better first immerse themselves in the circumstances of that murder, and the unconstitutional, indeed illegal trajectory of the principal accused, one that not only facilitated his unconstitutional participation in the ensuing election but catapulted him straight to the occupancy of the seat that had been kept warm for him during his trial and absence,” Mr Soyinka said.

“On release, he was ushered straight into the slot of Chairman of the Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives. That was not all. The head of that government, General Olusegun Obasanjo, proceeded to burnish Ige’s memory with characteristic zeal.”


When contacted, Kehinde Akinyemi, a spokesperson to Mr Obasanjo, declined commenting. He told PREMIUM TIMES the case is already in court.

Onnoghen Saga



Commenting on the crisis rocking the judiciary, Mr Soyinka said it is heartening news that 20 lawyers came together to undertake the mission of cleaning up the Aegean stables that seem to pass for the Nigerian Judiciary.

“I feel especially exercised by recent happenings within that Body currently from a dominant perspective: it has become increasingly fashionable to sneer at any anti-corruption preoccupation. No, no one actually ever goes so far as to condone corruption. Perish the thought!

“Gradually however, the nation’s psyche is being both subtly and brazenly retuned to accept not simply corruption as the norm of social relationships, but its heightened product, impunity, as a national emblem. The justification?

“The machinery that was launched against corruption with such fanfare, it is claimed, has run aground. Selectivity has been cited as proof. Insincerity, non-seriousness, cynical distraction, are routine assessments of the current governmental campaign.

“Even the heady draught of ‘stomach infrastructure’ – ‘na anti-corruption we go chop?’ is now applauded, accompanied by guffaws wherever decanted. Not surprising then, that it was only a matter of time before the flagbearer of one of the ‘parties to beat’ came out openly to dismiss the punitive option, delivering the promise of amnesty as one of the corner-stones of his plans for the nation. It was a well-calculated gambit.

“That candidate, an astute politician with his nose to the ground, found that ground primed, ready and conducive. Soon, this will be topped by some rivalling knight in shining armour from rivaling parties who promise prosecution and prison sentence for anyone who bad-mouths corruption – of course, always with a caveat – until all the ills that infest society have been completely eradicated – guinea-worm, river blindness, soil erosion, oil pollution, rape, kidnapping incest etc. etc.

“Not forgetting the transformation of the entire national infrastructure and the full elimination of the last vestiges of Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, Lassa bearing rodents and potholes on the road,” he said.

Impunity



The Nobel Laureate noted that impunity covers all crimes, “not just material corruption”.

He said any social or governance institution which fails to stem the tide of

criminality within its charge would be open to impunity.

“This has been the case of President Buhari in his lacklustre, indeed hands-off approach to the menace of the killer herdsmen – at least at the beginning, before swathes of Nigeria were reduced to slaughter fields, thriving farms erased off the food supply chain of the nation,” he said.

“(They are back, by the way, reported to have recently set fire to farms in Oyo State). Leadership lapse was further compounded by admission by the governor of Kaduna State that he had been paying ‘blood money’ to the killers responsible for that human and sustenance campaign of depletion!

“Impunity stalks the land, indeed it is virtually lording it all social interstices. Let no one take my word for it – simply turn the pages of the media any day.”

Mr Soyinka said he brought up the murder of Mr Ige into the discourse to establish the fact that “history strikes again” and highlight that Nigerians largely suffer from amnesia.

He also warned that corruption should not be trivialised as it breeds impunity and disrupts the course of justice.

“I have brought it up principally to remind the judiciary, and associate orders such as the Bar Association, that the war between impunity and Justice is an incessant one. Corruption is not a trait to be trivialised for political opportunism or locker-room guffaws. Corruption murdered the nation’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Justice was rendered helpless in the defence of its own Prime Advocate.

“The reign of impunity will prevail as long as the legal community continues to betray its calling, its oath of office, even its rites of professional collegiality and its responsibility to the rest of us. It is disappointing that even under a government that promised to dust up the files of political murders and end that reign of homicidal impunity, the Association has not thought fit to demand from the Buhari government its findings.


“There is more than ample material to warrant a Judicial Commission, and that demand has come up again and again. It will continue for as long as there remains a shred of conscience somewhere in this nation, especially when provoked into resurgence by the antics of those who murdered Justice to enthrone corruption and bask in the miasma of Impunity.”

Mr Soyinka explained that it is instructive that Mr Ige’s murder took place at election time.

He said such killings and kidnappings have escalated again as the nation prepares to vote.

Mr Soyinka also said a ‘den of killers’ is equally regrouping and wishes to direct the fortunes of this nation yet again.

“This nation needs no reminding that, yes indeed, the rule of law must prevail, and constitutionality must not be trivialised. Neither however, must criminality, or else, history merely repeats itself in increasingly dismal accents. Justice becomes neutralised,” he said.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/310911-obasanjos-govt-knew-protected-rewarded-those-who-murdered-bola-ige-soyinka.html

the only Nigerian man who confirmed himself to be against God and humanity.
OBJ said God will never forgive him if he ever support Atiku based on Atiku's dubious characters that he is privileged to know but for dollar sake, he chooses to go against God.
Obasanjo couldn't trust Atiku as his vice but he wants Nigerians to trust Atiku.
why do Africans politicians sacrifice everything at the alter at money?

Obasanjo is power drunk, selfish and jealous of other people's success. Obasnjo is so much jealous that that he never saw reasons to acknowledged role that Abiola played in bring him to power nor had he ever advocate for the recognition of that sacrifice and the right due to Abiola. Obasanjo's jealousy pushed him to abandon Zik museum but instead of seeing to the completion of the museum, he tax state governors to build Obasanajo library.

Let it be very clear Atiku was running things with Obasanjo when that was happening.

Nigerians will not return to Egypt. Forward all the way to the Next Level.

God bless Nigeria.

Obj n atiku gov na m scatter 9ja n still affecting us till now. That man z a cursed to yorubas n Nigeria. Der z no sane Nigeria that will support pdp, diz wu supporting em r just for personal interest not for d love of d nation. Leaving power to those pipu again would b d greatest disaster ever.

Bubu joor if na fyt, rig or jazzz, pls never return d power to dem. Diving n foul z part of d game tho.

God bless Nigeria.

Soyinka should come up with usefully facts concerning Ige's murder, Buhari cabals will be needing it to keep OBJ in check.

This ‘Murder of Bola Ige’ debacle has never left my curiosity.

This same confused Festus Keyamo was everywhere in the media, on TV with his puppet ‘Fryo’ running his mouth & obfuscating the whole issue

People in government/the political sphere definitely knew what transpired but characteristically, keep mute.

Obasanjo I hail o.

We all know this. Obasanjo is a child of disdain popularity. He is part of those that took the nation to the dog.

In a more civilized nation where credibility operates, Obj will not even be allowed unto the back seat. But in Nigeria, we found ourselves in a state of nothingness, and have refused to face reality.

Old age is making wole Soyinka to go mad.

He even blamed Obasanjo for his hair turning white.

No be lie nah

alizma:
the only Nigerian man who confirmed himself to be against God and humanity.
OBJ said God will never forgive him if he ever support Atiku based on Atiku's dubious characters that he is privileged to know but for dollar sake, he chooses to go against God.
Obasanjo couldn't trust Atiku as his vice but he wants Nigerians to trust Atiku.
why do Africans politicians sacrifice everything at the alter at money?

Because Money is their god.

alizma:
the only Nigerian man who confirmed himself to be against God and humanity.
OBJ said God will never forgive him if he ever support Atiku based on Atiku's dubious characters that he is privileged to know but for dollar sake, he chooses to go against God.
Obasanjo couldn't trust Atiku as his vice but he wants Nigerians to trust Atiku.
why do Africans politicians sacrifice everything at the alter at money?

It's super obvious that Obasanjo knew about Bola ige's death because i can't understand why the confirmed culprit,i mean his killer would be given a ticket BY PDP and INEC to contest for a senate seat and even won the election while in DETENTION
Having won the election Obasanjo decleared that he has immunity from prosecution and sworn him in as a senator
And now the same Obasanjo is claiming to be a born again christian

Shut up old fool

Nigerians please Support Sowore for President in 2019. The difference between him and Buhari/Atiku is as clear as night and day.

Sowore is a graduate from Columbia University, No easy feat at all.

Long epistle yet no content of how to send lifeless reloaded back to Daura....!!

Soyinka don open another chapter

Obj

So why is Soyinka shouting now
He wants to derail atikus ambitions
Coward

hmmmm

Nigeria issues is like the marital status that says "Complicated Relationship" too many bullshits in our history and as days go by it's getting worst..

Nigeria have never been led by a credible leader..that's why the nation is still in this messy state...

OBJ is fraud

if not for the fact that this man is prof, I would have say he has trade his brain for npower money,how can u make such allegation against Obj.

Binikingdowm:
Shut up old fool

You can't say this to His face

Soyinka, the new APC spoke person.

Bola Ige also murdered Honorable Olagbaju an aide to Omisore.

We all know and that's why we will follow PMB,Obj will not make heaven,cos he already said it that God Will never forgive him if he should support Atiku..

They support Obj, we support Kanu. Equation balance. Everyone is happy.

F

Na true