Soyinka vows to name APC politicians EFCC, ICPC should be quizzing

Says there was grand plan to annul 2023 presidential election

NOBEL Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said some politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) should be answering questions from anti- graft agencies over corrupt practices during their time in elected offices.

The elder statesman, who would turn 90 in July, spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief yesterday. He stated that when it is time, he would beam his searchlight on such politicians and ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC) to go after them.

The revered rights activist and critic acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu was a “doughty fighter” during the National Democratic Coalition ( NADECO) days over three decades ago. He said though somebody’s record must always be taken to account but he won’t allow past achievement of any individual to affect his opinion or criticism on any public issue.

Soyinka said: “Tinubu was a doughty fighter during the anti- Sani Abacha struggle. Even law recognises that somebody’s record must always be taken to account before you descend on that person for some kind of neglect, criminality, failure, whatever.

“However, I can never allow the past of any individual to twist my appeal on any urgent issue. I cannot say because you were a fighter during the NADECO struggle, I will sit down and watch you condone corruption, that includes failures.

“For instance, when it’s time, I’m going to look at those in his ( Tinubu) government who should be under trial right now and yet who occupy critical positions in the ruling party.

“Are they asking questions from the EFCC? This and this individual who held this position at this time who had immunity at the time, no longer has immunity, ICPC, EFCC, what are you doing about them? What happened? We’ve been waiting.”

In December, Soyinka after a visit to President Tinubu’s Ikoyi residence, said his assessment of the current administration would come after Tinubu’s one first anniversary in office.

Soyinka further dropped another bombshell in his interview yesterday when he disclosed that there was a conspiracy to annul the 2023 presidential election.

While referring to the 1993 election cancelled by former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida ( retd.), Soyinka said: “History was about to repeat itself, some people were determined to take us back to those days.”