Soyinka: Nigeria Needs a Non-corrupt Leader

The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said that Nigeria needs a non-corrupt leader at this point in her national history.

Soyinka’s assertion was as one of the highlights of the Ake Arts and Book Festival, an annual cultural event in his honour, which was held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta from November 18 to 22.

“Nigeria needs a leader who is indifferent to material acquisition; one who is not ashamed of admitting his mistakes and has humility,” he said.

He also condemned the air of right of incumbency which pervades Nigeria’s political sphere and the misuse of power which, he said, has entrenched “new patterns of inequality and injustice.’’

While chronicling the sociopolitical events in Nigeria before and after independence, the celebrated writer observed that Nigeria still grapples with impunity and corruption just as it did under the military rule.

Having compared what happened in post-Apartheid South Africa and the state of affairs in post-Biafran period in Nigeria, Soyinka remarked that Nigeria has not moved beyond that tumultuous event because the nation has not confronted some truths about her nationhood. He charged Nigerians not to seek for perfection but sincerity in leadership.

Soyinka paid tributes to Late Justice Kayode Esho, describing him as an incorruptible judge who did not succumb to pressure to subvert the course of justice.

He also eulogised great academics such as late economist, Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade whom he described as “an unusual Vice Chancellor” that contributed to nation building.