Africa Realities

Monday, 17 August 2015

[AfricaRealities.com] Fwd: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST - 14 August

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
14 August, 2015
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UN AGENCY ASSISTS NIGERIA'S NEIGHBOURS AS ESCALATING VIOLENCE SPARKS WAVES OF REFUGEES

The United Nations refugee agency today expressed concern about the escalating violence in and around Nigeria and its impact on the situation of Nigerian refugees in surrounding host countries, including a shrinking humanitarian space in which they can seek asylum.

"We salute the generosity and humanitarian spirit of Cameroon, Chad and Niger in opening their doors to tens of thousands of people fleeing conflict in their home areas in north-east Nigeria over the past two years," stated the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a press release.

Sharing these countries' commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of the refugees while at the same time ensuring the security of their own citizens and border areas, UNHCR has, for example, encouraged refugees to move away from front line border areas to camps deeper inland, where they can receive aid and protection.

But amid the fluid military situation in border areas since Nigerian militants widened their campaign earlier this year, thousands of people have been deported or returned to Nigeria from Cameroon and Chad in July and August.

These include 925 Nigerians sent home from Cameroon and Chad from July 9 to 11 and 50 Nigerians being screened by UNHCR at the Gourounguel transit camp on August 3, stressed the press release.

Unaware at this time if they include refugees who may have gone back involuntarily, the agency has been in contact with the relevant governments, expressing concern at the way these returns were conducted.

"UNHCR fears that such deportations lead to shrinking of the protection and humanitarian space and the agency reminds governments of their duty to protect asylum-seekers fleeing human rights violations and to respect the principle of non-refoulement (non-return)."

The Office of the High Commissioner reiterated that principles and international standards should be respected, even in the face of serious security concerns, including the right to apply for asylum and the need for joint screening with UNHCR for people in need of international protection, as well as evacuation for those willing to go back after making an informed decision about the situation in areas of return.

Encouraged by the assurances given by Cameroon to take the necessary measures to comply with international standards, UNHCR added that it will continue to monitor the situation of refugees and returnees, while noting that protection and humanitarian assistance for returnees is becoming "increasingly difficult" due to security and access difficulties.

* * *

BAN APPOINTS EXPERIENCED UN OFFICIAL AS ACTING HEAD OF MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon as his Acting Special Representative for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations stabilization mission in the country, known as MINUSCA.

Mr. Onanga-Anyanga succeeds Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye of Senegal, who resigned on 12 August amid allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation against peacekeepers at MINUSCA.

The Secretary-General is grateful for Lieutenant General Gaye's long and distinguished record of public service in the United Nations, most recently, over the past two years, during a critical period in the Central African Republic.

Mr. Onanga-Anyanga brings with him several years of experience with the UN in conflict-affected areas, including as Head of the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB), having served most recently as the Assistant-Secretary-General, System-Wide Senior Coordinator on Burundi in addition to his role as the Coordinator of UN Headquarters Response to the Boko Haram crisis.

From 2007 to 2012 he was the Director of the Office of the UN Deputy Secretary-General. Previously, Mr. Onanga-Anyanga was Special Adviser to the President of the sixtieth and sixty-first sessions of the General Assembly (2005-2007). Prior to that, he was Chef de Cabinet to the President of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly.

From 1998-2004, he held a variety of political and managerial positions at the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna and New York. Earlier in his career, he was acting Secretary of the UN Standing Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central Africa, and served as First Counsellor for Disarmament and Political Affairs at the Permanent Mission of Gabon to the UN in New York.

* * *

UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE WARNS BURUNDI CRISIS 'SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL'

The situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate amid ongoing killings, arrests and detentions in the latest post-election turmoil to afflict the country, the United Nations human rights office has reported.

"We urge all sides to resume dialogue before the situation spirals completely out of control," warned Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as she addressed reporters today in Geneva.

"Burundi has been slipping closer to the edge with every high-profile attack and killing, and we call on leaders on all sides to take concrete steps to renounce the use of violence and to resolve differences peacefully," she continued. "Where violations and abuses have occurred, there need to be prompt investigations with a view to bringing the perpetrators to account and justice for victims."

According to the UN, civil unrest erupted on 26 April in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, after the ruling Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie-Forces pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD) party elected President Pierre Nkurunziza on 25 April as its candidate for the then-scheduled 26 June presidential election.

Mr. Nkurunziza has been in office for two terms since 2005, and a broad array of actors warned that an attempt to seek a third term was unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of the 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi that ended a decade of civil war in the country.

The OHCHR spokesperson observed that since the outbreak of violence in April, at least 96 people have been killed, mostly among opposition supporters, while some 600 people have been arrested and detained. Among those detained, there have been at least 60 cases of torture and many more cases of ill-treatment, she added.

"So far, no trials have taken place in relation to the violence, killings, torture and ill-treatment since April, although the authorities have repeatedly indicated that investigations are under way and that some police elements have been arrested," Ms. Shamdasani said, noting that the actual numbers of persons killed, detained or tortured may be much higher than initially thought.

"We understand that in very few cases have investigations actually been initiated. Continuing impunity in Burundi can only fuel cycles of violence."

Along with the increasing human rights violations, the mounting violence across Burundi has also provoked a widespread humanitarian crisis as refugees have spilled across the country's borders and fanned throughout the region.

Indeed, the most recent data state that over 200,000 people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries with 85,200 Burundian refugees in Tanzania, 71,600 in Rwanda, 28,300 in Uganda, 14,322 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 7,000 in Kenya, and 3,000 in southern Africa.

* * *

SYRIA: UN SPECIAL ENVOY CONDEMNS INDISCRIMINATE SHELLING IN CIVILIAN AREAS

Condemning the continued use of indiscriminate weapons in civilian areas of Syria, the United Nations special envoy for the country has today renewed his call on the warring parties to immediately cease such attacks and focus on finding a political solution to the "unacceptable situation" in their homeland.

"The shelling of Damascus neighbourhoods and suburbs, as well as other areas in Syria, which continues to indiscriminately kill and injure civilians, has no justification, but only further terrorizes the population," Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura stressed in a statement released in Geneva by his spokesperson.

His comments come as news agencies report that dozens of civilians have been killed in recent heavy shelling of populated areas in and around the Syrian capital.

Through the statement, Mr. de Mistura expresses his sincere condolences to the families of the bereaved and wishes speedy recovery to the injured.

He renews his call on all the warring parties in Syria to immediately cease attacks affecting any civilian. "Instead, all Syrian efforts should now be focused on finding a political solution to the unacceptable situation in their homeland," he added.

In a recent interview with the UN News Centre, Mr. de Mistura, who has been tasked with reinvigorating the Geneva Communiqué towards ending the conflict, said that in his 42 years of service with the UN, he has never seen such a cynical series of reasons for which a conflict like this one, which could have been solved, has been going on for five years, with 220,000-240,000 killed, one million wounded and four million refugees.

"But, at the same time, I'm also realizing that if there's one institution that cannot abandon the Syrians, it's the UN," he said, adding: "We have had many attempts, and we'll continue pushing, because at the end of the day, what is happening at the moment, is that we are having a whole generation of Syrians, young kids, who have seen only war…There is no military solution. Everybody knows it, the Government and the opposition, and everybody who is involved on both sides."

* * *

MONTH-LONG BLOCKADE OF AID ROUTES LIFTED IN SOUTH SUDAN, ALLOWING UN TO ACCESS CONFLICT-TORN AREAS

The United Nations humanitarian wing has reported that the month-long restrictions on the movement of goods by air and river routes in South Sudan have been lifted, allowing delivery of aid supplies in crisis-torn Malakal, and has warned of a "dire situation" as fighting continues.

"The lifting of the restrictions has allowed humanitarian partners to start resupplying critical medicines, fuel, food and water treatment chemicals in Malakal in Upper Nile state," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

Partners are working to ensure supplies continue to be delivered to Upper Nile to avert a further deterioration of the already dire situation, according to an updateissued Thursday.

Restrictions on the movement of barges on the River Nile, as well as clearances to use the Malakal airstrip had affected the delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable people in Upper Nile state. No barges arrived in Malakal during July and no flights were able to land at the airstrip from the end of June until 7 August.

Humanitarian partners continue to negotiate with all parties on the ground to access Wau Shilluk to be able to restock water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, including fuel for water system, which are exhausted there.

More than 10,000 people, mainly from Wau Shilluk, have arrived to the Malakal civilian protection site since 1 August, bringing the total number of displaced people seeking refuge at the site to 46,500 and causing a severe congestion and stretching the capacity of aid agencies to provide humanitarian services.

OCHA says that relief agencies are racing to cope with the influx as the rainy season creates increasingly desperate living conditions. Although partners undertook an extensive operation to expand the protection site in 2014 and 2015, it was designed to accommodate only 18,000 people.

* * *

UN EXPERTS CALL ON IRAN TO RELEASE JOURNALIST JASON REZAIAN AS HE AWAITS VERDICT

United Nations human rights experts today urged the Iranian Government to immediately release the Washington Post's correspondent in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who now awaits verdict after his fourth and possible final hearing earlier this week.

"We urge the Iranian Government to release Mr. Rezaian as well as all those exercising their rights to expression who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted," the human rights experts in a press release.

"The arrest, detention and secret trial of Mr. Rezaian violate his rights and intimidate all those working in the media in Iran," said the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye. "His continued detention violates basic rules that not only aim to protect journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and others but to guarantee everyone's right to information."

Iranian authorities detained Mr. Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, over a year ago, though she was subsequently released. In secret proceedings, he has reportedly been accused of espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Mr. Rezaian seems to have been detained for the simple fact of having exercised his rights to freedom of expression, association and political participation," noted Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. "His rights to legal counsel of his choice and to due process of law seem to have been forgotten."

Mr. Rezaian's trial has been held closed to the public and even his close relatives and he was deprived of his right to consular visitation. The journalist has had no opportunity to present witnesses or evidence in his defence, or to examine and challenge witnesses and evidence against him.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, reminded the Iranian Government of its responsibility to ensure that journalists do not face prosecution for exercising their professional activities. "Mr. Rezaian's case is part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression in Iran. Journalists must be protected, not harassed, detained or prosecuted," he stressed.

Mr. Rezaian, who is being held at Evin Prison in Tehran, was placed in solitary confinement for five months and subjected to full-day interrogation sessions that caused significant physical and psychological strain. These conditions have resulted in Rezaian's dramatic weight loss, respiratory problems, and chronic infections.

Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

* * *

HELPED BY FLOATING ROBOTS, UN-BACKED RESEARCH SHIP SCOURS INDIAN OCEAN FOR PLASTIC WASTE

The United Nations is supporting a project aiming to chart the impact of plastic waste, including garbage like plastic bags, and 'microplastics' used in products such as cosmetics and shower gels, in the Indian Ocean, underscoring the risk of dramatic upheavals in marine ecosystems even in one of the world's least-known and least-visited environments.

An estimated 5 trillion pieces of plastic currently float in the world's oceans, up from none in 1950 and posing a question about their potential impact on a food supply chain that stretches from plankton – which have been filmed eating plastic pellets – up through shellfish, salmon, tuna and eventually humans, not to mention whales.

With these troubling facts in mind, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is supporting the efforts of the Dr Fridtjof Nansen, which is plying the waves of the southern Indian Ocean, trawling for trash.

The research vessel, operated by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in collaboration with FAO, has since 1975 plied the world's oceans to collect information on marine resources and the health of the marine ecosystems and to help train scientists from around the world.

Some 18 scientists from eight countries and crew are aboard now, in the second of two seasonal missions. Researchers typically measure ocean temperatures, oxygen levels, chlorophyll and biological processes like plankton production and fish distribution, but there are two particular additional goals this year: to assess the scale and nature of industrial rubbish in remote parts of the southern Indian Ocean, and to study how the local Gyre, a cyclical vortex of currents, operates to spread plankton and tiny fish.

"We have found some plastic particles in almost all the stations we sampled," said Reidar Toresen of IMR, cruise leader of the first leg. IMR is providing scientific services to the FAO EAF-Nansen Project financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

Ocean-borne plastic trash can be ingested by wildlife – some sea creatures have even been seen to prefer beads of a particular colour – causing harm. Even tiny plankton have also been observed consuming plastic beads. Such menu choices can have tragic outcomes; sea turtles that eat plastic bags, for example, often die of dehydration and sunburn as their digestion is paralyzed and decomposing food turns into gas that forces the animals to float.

According to FAO, huge floating islands of trash twice the size of Texas have recently been located in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but the southern Indian Ocean is relatively unexplored. The Trans-Indian Ocean Survey will yield critical information to scientists concerned about the extent and impact of so-called plastic beads in the ocean.

On the current mission, the crew is also launching new, high-technology sinking sensors to measure levels of a range of deepwater biological elements. Provided by Australia with help from India, these robotic sensors are a step beyond the floating robots already in use to monitor ocean temperatures and salinity, as they are programmed to dive down as deep as 2,000 meters to sample oceanic health indicators.

When they resurface, these diving devices gather data at various depths, then resurface and transmit the data to scientists by satellite. The sensors will collect data on levels of chlorophyll, an indicator both of trends in the ocean's carbon storage capacity as well as in the basic food supply that plankton and the fish that eat them can rely on.

Promoting sustainable oceans and fishing practices is a priority for FAO as capture fishery production is the source of 80 million tonnes of nutritious food each year. Together with aquaculture, the world's capture fisheries provide nearly 3 billion people with 20 percent of their protein intake, as well as almost 60 million jobs.

* * *

MALI: SENIOR UN OFFICIAL URGES SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR RELIEF EFFORTS AMID ONGOING CRISIS

Food insecurity in Mali will only grow if national parties fail to commit to peace and stability in the country, the United Nations relief official dealing with Africa's Sahel region warned today as he urged the international community to remain engaged with the country's urgent humanitarian needs.

In a press release issued following his completion of a five-day visit to the country, UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, emphasized the necessity for the international community to sustain its engagement to meet the vital needs of Mali's most vulnerable communities, whilst supporting ongoing efforts toward peace and development.

"I am inspired by the resilience of Malian communities and a vibrant civil society that strives to uphold values of tolerance and social cohesion," Mr. Lanzer declared. "Together with the Government and development partners, we must stand by the people to address their aspirations to a dignified life, development and security."

As Mali enters a gruelling lean season, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that some 3.1 million Malians continue to suffer from food insecurity, of whom 410,000 require immediate assistance.

In addition, across the country the lives of an estimated 15,000 children are threatened by acute malnutrition. The situation is of particular concern in the Timbuktu region, where malnutrition rates exceed the emergency threshold, according to OCHA.

The dire humanitarian situation in the country is only further exacerbated by Mali's ongoing political instability and insecurity.

"The insecurity that prevails in parts of the country hinders humanitarian access, precisely to some of the most vulnerable communities where it is generating new needs," warned Mbaranga Gasarabwe, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali.

"Stabilization and security are essential to ensure people's access to critical services and livelihoods," she added. "Together with the national authorities, we are working towards this goal."

In response to the humanitarian crisis facing Mali's population, the UN this year launched a $377 million to address the most pressing needs throughout the country. OCHA has noted that it is the second highest appeal of the nine countries of the Sahel region but, to date, only 33 percent of its financial requirements have been met.

"The international community shall remain engaged to ensure aid agencies have the resources they need to save lives and boost self-reliance of the most vulnerable communities," Mr. Lanzer concluded.

* * *

UN HEALTH AGENCY KICKS-OFF CAMPAIGN HONOURING WORLD'S HEALTH WORKERS

The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to launch a campaign aimed at honouring the sacrifices and efforts of thousands of international health workers deployed to the frontlines of the world's most pressing crises, the United Nations agency has announced.

The online campaign – to be known by its social-media friendly moniker #ThanksHealthHero – will seek to draw attention to the growing threats faced by health workers and the need for intensified action to protect them ahead of next week's World Humanitarian Day to be observed by the UN system on 19 August.

In a press release, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan noted that the agency remains committed to saving lives and reducing suffering in times of crisis despite an uptick in targeted attacks against health workers.

"Attacks against health care workers and facilities are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law," Dr. Chan declared. "Health workers have an obligation to treat the sick and injured without discrimination. All parties to conflict must respect that obligation."

According to the WHO, in 2014 alone there were 372 attacks in 32 countries on health staff, resulting in 603 deaths and 958 injuries, while similar incidents have been recorded this year.

Ongoing attacks on health facilities have also been increasingly reported, the agency added. In Yemen alone, 190 health facilities are non-functional and another 183 partly functional as result of the ongoing conflict, including 26 health facilities that have been attacked since May 2015.

Similarly, in Iraq, more than 180 front line health services in 10 governorates have been suspended, leaving millions of refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities without access to health care.

The WHO's latest campaign will now seek to draw attention to the health workers' plight and solicit messages of thanks from around the world via social media.

* * *

UN HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS WELCOME RELEASE OF SYRIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Welcoming recent release of three human rights defenders from Syrian Government custody, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel today urged the authorities to grant an independent organization regular access to those allegedly detained.

"The release of the three human rights defenders is something to be welcomed," said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the stressing stressing that "in Syria, where a culture of impunity has taken hold, such good news is all too rare."

Hussein Ghrer, Hani Al-Zaytani and Mazen Darwish, former employees at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, had been arrested and imprisoned by the Syrian Government since February 2012.

According to the Commission, the three men were charged with "publicizing terrorist acts" and "promoting terrorist activities" in March 2014.

"Many of these detainees have been held for long periods without charge or without trial, and are often not permitted contact with their families or their lawyers," said Mr. Pinheiro.

Like many other human rights defenders and peace activists, these three advocates were charged under Article 8 of the Syria's 2012 Counter-Terrorism legislation, which prescribes imprisonment and forced labour for a variety of vaguely defined terrorism-related offenses that include distributing written materials or information.

"We repeat our call upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to allow an impartial, neutral and independent organization regular access to the thousands of persons reportedly in detention in the country," underscored the UN rights expert.

The Commission, which also comprises Karen Koning AbuZayd, Carla del Ponte and Vitit Muntarbhorn, was established by the UN Human Rights Council in August 2011 to investigate and record all violations of international human rights law during the Syria conflict.

* * *

BRAZIL MUST ADDRESS PRISON OVERCROWDING AND IMPLEMENT MEASURES AGAINST TORTURE – UN EXPERT

A United Nations human rights expert today called on Brazilian Federal and State authorities to urgently address the issue of prison overcrowding in the country and show genuine commitment to implement measures against torture.

"Many of the facilities visited are severely overcrowded – in some instances close to three times their actual capacity," said the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez.

"This leads to chaotic conditions inside the facilities, and greatly impacts on the living conditions of inmates and their access to legal defence, health care, psycho-social support, work and education opportunities, as well as sun, fresh air and recreation."

Mr. Méndez call comes at the end of 12-day official visit to Brazil, where he conducted unannounced visits to places of detention such as police stations, pre-trial facilities, penitentiaries, juvenile detention centres, as well as mental health institutions, points out a press release.

Through these visits, the independent expert saw how severe overcrowding generates tension and a violent atmosphere, in which physical and psychological ill-treatment of inmates becomes the norm.

"The use of pepper spray, tear gas, noise bombs and rubber bullets by the prison personnel is frequent, as are severe beatings and kicking," he said, noting that prison personnel serving inside the penitentiaries are often heavily armed, including with assault rifles, shotguns and hand guns.

The expert noted with concern "the absence of a robust policy to deal with occurrences of torture, the lack of accountability for them, and the likelihood that this state of affairs will perpetuate, and even exacerbate this practice, both in number and severity."

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the measures taken so far, or envisioned, to fight torture and ill-treatment, such as the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism following Brazil's ratification of the Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture, the National Committee to Prevent and Combat Torture.

"However," he stressed, "more efforts are needed to ensure a nationwide implementation of the safeguards offered by these institutions and procedures."

Among other measures, the expert recommended the competent Brazilian authorities to immediately expand the application of custody hearings to the entire country, and re-design them to encourage victims to speak up and to allow for effective documentation of torture or ill-treatment. Custody hearings have the benefit of reducing the disproportionately high number of pre-trial inmates – currently 40 per cent – and to prevent torture and ill-treatment.

The Special Rapporteur furthermore expressed concern at the proposed constitutional amendment, currently pending in Congress, to lower the age of criminal responsibility of children to 16 years instead of 18, as well as another proposal to extend the maximum length of detention in a socio-educational facility, from the current three years to up to 10 years.

"Prosecuting adolescent offenders as adults would violate Brazil's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child," the expert said. "In addition, approval of these proposals would worsen the currently already seriously overcrowded penitentiaries throughout Brazil."

* * *

IRAQ: UN RIGHTS OFFICE HAILS REFORM PACKAGE FOLLOWING COUNTRYWIDE PROTESTS

The United Nations human rights office has welcomed the Government of Iraq's response to mass protests against corruption and social inequality which crippled the country's capital earlier this month.

Addressing a press briefing in Geneva this morning, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), lauded the Government's adoption of a reform package aimed at advancing "concrete steps" to reinforce the rule of law, improve governance and respect for human rights.

According to reports, several thousand people protested against rampant government corruption, social inequality, poor social services and lack of accountability for officials in a series of recent demonstrations that swept across the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and other cities.

"We are encouraged by these reforms and we call on the authorities to ensure that human rights are at the core of implementation," Ms. Shamdasani told reporters. "We continue to follow developments and our office stands ready to continue supporting efforts to this end."

* * *

__________________________________________________________________

Click here for a PDF version of the UN Daily News
Follow us on Social media:
For more details go to UN News Centre
Listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio

__._,_.___

Posted by: Africa Realities <africarealities@gmail.com>

Reply via web post

•

Reply to sender

•

Reply to group

•

Start a New Topic

•

Messages in this topic (1)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.
The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.
When the white man came we had the land and they had the bibles; now they have the land and we have the bibles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Voice of the Poor, the Weak and Powerless.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Post message: AfricaRealities@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AfricaRealities-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AfricaRealities-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AfricaRealities-owner@yahoogroups.com
__________________________________________________________________

Please consider the environment before printing this email or any attachments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-http://www.africarealities.com/

-https://www.facebook.com/africarealities

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-New International Scholarships opportunities: http://www.scholarshipsgate.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find Friends in Africa:
http://www.africanaffection.com
http://www.datinginafrica.com/
http://www.foraha.net
https://www.facebook.com/onlinedatinginafrica

Visit Your Group

• Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[AfricaRealities.com] Fwd: No. 27808: My take on corruption: Wole Soyinka -- Western Region

AfricaFiles

Title: My take on corruption: Wole Soyinka
Author: Zero Tolerance Team
Category: Western Region
Date: 8/12/2015
Source: Pambazuka Issue 739
Source Website: http://www.pambazuka.net

African Charter Article# 21: All peoples shall freely dispose of their wealth and natural resources for their exclusive interest, eliminating all forms of foreign economic exploitation.

Summary & Comment: By some estimates, Nigeria's national oil corporation alone has reportedly lost more than $30 billion in oil revenue to corruption in the last five yeas, equivalent to the gross domestic product of more than 30 African countries. In this wide-ranging interview, Prof Wole Soyinka speaks about the lost potential in Africa's most populous nation and the hope of creating a new society built on people-based values. - Pambazuka

http://www.pambazuka.net/en/category.php/features/95351

INTRODUCTION

Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa's first Nobel Prize winner for literature and a frontline crusader for social justice, is the quintessential academic with a reputation for candour. The octogenarian, who is venerated for his accomplishment in the literary world and a life of activism, is equally famous for a rebellious streak that is founded on abhorrence for injustice. In this rare encounter with Zero Tolerance Team of WILSON UWUJAREN, SAMIN AMADIN, DELE OYEWALE, TONY ORILADE, THERESA NWOSU, MONDAY EMONI, AUGUSTINE OMONKHEGBELE and IDRIS ISIYAKU at his office in Lagos three days before the March 28, 2015 presidential election, Soyinka bares his mind on issues of anti-corruption, especially former President Goodluck Jonathan's anti-corruption posture and political developments in the country.

Zero Tolerance magazine is a publication of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

THE INTERVIEW ZERO TOLERANCE: You have been speaking lately and it appears you are worried about the state of affairs in the country.

SOYINKA: Nigeria is so peculiar and dramatic. Even talking about the potentials before we talk about the negativities, Nigeria is a nation for perpetual study. I think in Nigeria, it is the potential which hits people and makes them believe in Nigeria. It tends to make them react when they see potentials being wasted and it is a tragedy to see potentials wasted. But paradoxically, it is a realization of the existence, that positive, that keeps many Nigerians and even foreign people going.

ZT: You talked about the potentials of the country but we have not been able to translate this potential to reality in terms of development. Why is this so?

SOYINKA: It is the human potentials that interest me. I travel and everywhere I go I am amazed at the presence of Nigerians. The intelligence, integrity, productivity, initiative, you name it. So what is the problem? I think we got it wrong from independence as people became so conscious of the divisions because we wanted so much to satisfy the plurality of interests. I will say, we neglected the importance of real value, human value and the quality of potential in human beings and we contrived phrases like geographical spread, regional quota, etc and allowed mediocrity to reign. I think that is the problem that we are dealing with till today.

ZT: How do we overcome this problem of mediocrity?

SOYINKA: We must acknowledge that we made a huge error in satisfying the lowest common denominator of the available human potential in this country and we elevated what I call the reign of mediocrity. Quite frankly, I think it is about repudiating the past, creating space for new thinking for the best of the new generation, creating both political and geographical space and going at it with single mindedness that says, 'enough of buttering, sentiments and massaging the ego of the old brigade'.It is what I sought to do for instance, when I tried to create a new political party, which I stressed to them that this is not my party. I believe very much that there has to be a revolution and this is a party for the young. I said it is a zero kobo party and you people have to learn in your campaigning how to use the bicycles again and if you are in areas where there are donkeys, you have to campaign on donkey backs from door-to-door and stop waiting to be financed by the old brigade because you will have to do their bidding. Instead, go to the young, appeal to the young. Make a small beginning, even if it is a local government, see what can be done with a new brigade, seize some space and create room for emulation from other people. Don't keep waiting for the 'money bags' so you can spread all over the country.

ZT: Did that message settle well with the youths?

SOYINKA: It did not settle well with them. I was shocked. First of all, they had not got over the notion that when you start a political party, you are creating space for yourself. So many of them were shocked when they realized that I was serious and had no interest in occupying any political position, so they started to fall out one by one. I said to them, this is your space, this is for you. I have no money to give to you but I have ideas and organizational capacity, but you are going to do the donkey work, the leg work. Once it is exhausted, you are on your own.

ZT: To what extent did you try to drive this vision?

SOYINKA: Of course to the best of my capacity, we held several meetings here in my office, I showed them directions and we had meetings in Abuja. Once, I refused to go to Owerri when I discovered that the slogan they were using was 'Wole Soyinka, Wole Soyinka, Wole Soyinka' I said I was not coming because this is not about Wole Soyinka.I remember someone once came proudly from the North to show me a poster. He was contesting and his picture was on the poster and there was my picture on the poster too. I asked them, 'don't you get the message, why make this useless poster?' And I said 'am sorry, but this has to be destroyed and I did'.I must confess I could not win them from the notion that a political party has to be about a single individual. Maybe the next members will get it right because the party is not entirely dead. That INEC does not recognize a party does not mean the party does not exist. INEC has its own rules, we were recognized and deregistered. I said to them, 'shut yourselves down and turn yourselves into a movement, until you are re-registered'.

ZT: Do you see the party being revived again?

SOYINKA: Of course. My advice to them now is to team up with some of the new parties like KOWA Party that is led by that lady (Remi Sonaiya). They came to see me here and I was impressed by the lady. The youth should come together to challenge the status quo. They must not give up.

ZT: What strikes you about the KOWA Party?

SOYINKA: I only met the party leaders and I have seen pieces of their manifesto and I was impressed by the youthfulness of the party and its candidate and the tendency of a total new approach to politics.

ZT: To achieve any change in the minds of the youth, there must be reorientation in terms of materialistic tendencies, corruption and crime generally. How can we achieve this?

SOYINKA: I agree with you. The battle is the mind and to achieve this mind change, the media has crucial role to play. The media must be used effectively to reach the masses. You have to find a new language in which to address the people and demonstrate what is possible. You see, concreteness impresses people more than all the grammar of Wole Soyinka. There is a governor that says he goes out to eat amala with his people and what he did was to create 'stomach infrastructure', that kind of blasphemous message.You go to the 'bukar' and engage people in languages different from the one I am using with you now, get down to their basics and get your hands dirty with work among the people. This is something I realize is a full time job.

ZT: But cyber crime, bank fraud and many others are today perpetrated by the youths, how can we tackle the situation?

SOYINKA: First and foremost, we must catch them young. I remember late Tai Solarin used to use this expression 'I'll die for the youths, I'll die for the youths' and once, I called him, 'egbon' (my older brother) stop saying that. Some of these people you want to die for are the ones that will stab you in the back so don't use that expression because you and I know that they are not angels. Most of them are rapists, cultist and I use that expression as opposed to a confraternity which is confused in the mind in my experience which is very sad.The obstacles to this transformation in youths are ignoramus. We just had a festival here and the theme was 'Corruption'. School children were handpicked to know how they see the issue of corruption, why do we keep crying that the adult society is corrupt, what is it that you see? Many schools were involved and ICPC wanted to take the results and maybe you (EFCC) can take that over if they are not fast enough because this project has been over a year now. We have their response and all those paintings of how the children see us.Exercises like that involving the children put to shame the adults by depicting what corruption does to them. So it's a matter of catching them young and that way we transform the next level of humanity who in turn exercises an influence on adults, aunties, and parents etc. Because that top stratum is almost finished.Look at this election for instance, the current election (2015); have you ever seen such an expensive contest? Where is all the money coming from? Look, this country is awash with naira and dollars on a level we have not seen since Obasanjo made his third term attempt. But this has beggared even the corrupt spending which took place over that exercise. This election, I have never known anything like this in any other country.

ZT: Was that why it was reported in the media recently that you 'bombed' President Jonathan?

SOYINKA: Ahh! Am not Boko Haram oh (laughter). I have been speaking with President Jonathan not only publicly, but privately. There are policies that are avoidable. When it comes to the issue of corruption, Jonathan surrounds himself with certain unsavoury characters and that is something you don't have to do if you are in charge. You are in a position to select those who are seen with you so that the populace can look up to them.And I can say this because by the time this interview comes out, the elections would have been over and nobody will charge me with campaigning for or against somebody. Quite frankly. I saw him as recently as two weeks ago; because there are still certain things to be resolved, whether he returns to office or not, time exists to be exploited no matter the circumstances and no matter what is taking place during that period. So leadership of course has a primary responsibility but followership is very critical and you mentioned it before, why do you prefer to go this way rather than that way? People prefer not to carve a totally different path for themselves and it is relative to all of us.

ZT: Critics of the Jonathan administration rate him low in fighting corruption, what is your view?

SOYINKA: As a president, you've got to show some example. I am disturbed for instance when I read that a candidate said, 'I will not probe anybody or something like that'. You don't fight corruption by sweeping everything under the carpet, you don't. You just say, am going to allow the law take its course; I am going to empower the agencies which has been set up for such specific purpose of stemming the corrupt out flow of resources from this nation and don't even talk to me about corruption beyond saying you going to strengthen existing institutions.That is what we want to hear, don't make any promises.

ZT: Why should a president involve himself in what is already structurally established and dedicated to that purpose?

SOYINKA: I warned your former boss, I told him that, your task will be done when in the course of your investigation, you discover that the source of the problem is the very person who appointed you. He looked shocked a bit, and eventually Ribadu and I met in London, after he was removed and El-Rufai was also in exile after they tried to kill him. We met and Ribadu refused to sit down. I asked him to sit but he said no, that until I accepted his apology, he won't sit down. I asked what apology? And he said, "I should have listened to you, I failed to listen to you. Something you said to me, and I failed to listen" Ribadu admitted that he realized very late that Obasanjo was using him.So we have to destroy that link between power and corruption. Audu Ogbe confirmed what i am telling you. Then it was 'go after this one, go after that one, ahh you did not arrest him? Arrest his mother!' I am challenging Obasanjo to deny it.So when you are looking for corruption, you should look at the entire stratum of the society, while some forms of corruption are direct, others are indirect. For others, corruption sometimes is encouraged by careless statements. This is a hydra-headed problem which is why I had to invent a monster to answer the name of corruption and I ended up with 'HYDROPUS' which means a hydra-headed monster plus octopus (laughter). I needed something that will convey to people what corruption is, what it does, its antecedents, its ability to camouflage, to vanish and resuscitate somewhere else, which is why I used school children to give me an image of corruption.

ZT: There seems to be some confusion on what corruption entails, some people argue that corruption is not stealing, what is it to you?

SOYINKA: This is what we are talking about, how can a public figure, an intelligent person like that come out to tell the public that corruption is not stealing. Then you should have asked him, what then is corruption? The media should have challenged him.

ZT: Election is here, and between the devil and the deep blue sea (PDP and the APC), where will you turn?

SOYINKA: This is a very tough one. Maybe, we should have even intervened in this political process at the stage when they are selecting their candidates to say if you go in this direction, we won't take you. Maybe that is what we should have done. Buhari on one hand, has a very dark past which some of us find very difficult to obliterate, while Jonathan on the other hand, has been dismal, allowing himself to be surrounded by questionable people like Fayose. Do you have to appoint somebody like Femi Fani Kayode as Director of media in charge of presidential campaign? Someone on trial for stealing and conspiracy to steal? Is this what you understand by democracy?

ZT: Can a man under prosecution for corruption be qualified for a ministerial appointment?

SOYINKA: Do you need somebody like that? What about somebody like Gbenga Daniel who closed down a legislature for almost a year? When I heard this, I called Jonathan, I asked him, 'is this your understanding of democracy". A governor closes down an assembly with the aid of the police and the place is under lock with 'Mopol' guarding it. When Jonathan selected this person as his campaign manager in Abuja, I telephoned him; I said does this support democracy that you choose this person. It is not a question of this person is a governor therefore come to my party, I can work with him. No, when a president picks somebody for a particular duty it means you are pointing that person out as an aspect of government so you see, it is impossible for me to pick Jonathan as a candidate.In fact, Jonathan's campaign manager is the greatest asset that Buhari could have hoped for. All the opposition needs to do is look at his spokesman, is that the kind of person he should have?Look, Buhari is a very lucky man. Between the two, the one whom I think has paid some debt to the community would be Buhari because I think he has accepted the fact that he made mistakes. He hasn't brought himself round to apologise, if he had done that, I might have been less ambiguous about him. But I think from my findings about him, I think he is a born again phenomenon. If am wrong, well, too bad. Though I don't believe in 'born-againism' but I think this may be an exception.

ZT: Would you say that corruption in Nigeria is a reflection of the society?

SOYINKA: I don't know what is happening to the society, but I can tell you this much: when I was a child, for a public/civil servant to be caught in corrupt practices, that individual will be a pariah. He will be a complete reject of the society; he/she could not raise his or her voice to speak in the public. What you are asking is what happened to society? So what happened between that time and now? That time when a public officer, prison or customs officer caught in corruption hides his face in shame amongst his peers, he just couldn't come out publicly. For instance, I remember one or two cases when somebody couldn't come to our house the way he used to, he just disappeared. Today, when they come back, they get chieftaincy titles, they are received in grand style, cows are killed, they ride on white horses. You have a former president who welcomes political thugs, like Obasanjo who welcomed the late Adedibu who rode into his Otta farm on horseback with Kakaki and Obasanjo even named Adedibu his political mentor. A former president of this nation, called the late Adedibu his political mentor! Society is finished!

ZT: So, how did we get here?

SOYINKA: You tell me? I do not know. I do not know what has happened. People say human nature is a very vague expression, people tend to say human nature is corruptible anyway and it comes from a theological point of view, goes back to the Garden of Eden, that there is always this corrupt gene waiting to be activated that we inherited from the very beginning. I don't believe in that theological excuse but I know that the sudden oil wealth, easy access to wealth fueled the process, it definitely accentuated the process, it made corruption easy because if you are corrupt and you have extra cash you are able to shut the mouth of your accuser and they will be silenced.

ZT: Let me take you back to the issue of Ribadu which you raised earlier. There was a time when we interviewed former President Obasanjo and he told us that Ribadu investigated him and cleared him of all corruption charges. I don't know if it tallies with what you have just told us?

SOYINKA: I am not going to speak on this; but one thing I like, when I speak, I don't dwell on rumours but at the same time I form opinion within the limits of the investigation which I make, that's how far I go. I am a very curious person; I'll always ask: is this thing true, is it not true? And I use my own means to investigate and come to my conclusion.Anybody can say I have been investigated, I have been investigated, it's okay, some people are lucky and others not so lucky. So let's leave it at that.

ZT: When you said Ribadu told you that he will not sit until you forgave him of something you told him, did he tell you exactly what?

SOYINKA: Of course he did, that was one of the longest discussions I had in a long time. We were there for almost four hours and we spoke for at least two and a half hours. I asked him a couple of questions and he told me certain things in confidence and there were things which corroborated the things I have heard from different directions on investigations which I myself had made.But the important thing is that he came around to see that my indication to him is that you had to get to the source of corruption which grows when it is tolerated, what we call the culture of impunity. When a leader encourages the culture of impunity, the society is lost and it makes the work harder for the rest of us. As I said in Tunis in a conference on this very subject, when you fight corruption, corruption strikes back and that is the truth because when you fight corruption, you get confidence and when it gets to impunity, then it gets aggressive and says, 'oh, so you think you are different? You think you are tough and different?' This is why some of us are almost permanently in the libel court. I just had a case recently that has been in court for over ten years now, that's a long time, a case of libel, especially when the libel is committed by those whom you exposed, because they think that by libeling you, after a while you get tired and get off their back which of course I refused to do. And this case has been transferred from one judge to the other, did I say ten years? Fifteen years, just before Justice Oke, in fact it was resumed by somebody else who picked up the dirty gauntlet and libeled me again on this very issue, and until even Abacha's son had the nerve to use that statement, and libeling me on the internet, I didn't waste my time because I think the next day, the United States returned another huge sum of Nigeria's stolen money from the Abachas coffers. But the thing is that it is not fair to those who fight corruption that they have to fight the aggressiveness, the impunity of the corrupt so maybe you (EFCC) should have a department which caters for the interest of those who are victims of aggression of corruption. I think it's about time, otherwise, people will get tired and wouldn't want to serve or appear in the public because of this aggressive, corrupt cabal which take up their own guns and who manipulates society and opinion of the society. So that is an idea for you, innovation.

ZT: Can you share with us some of the things you told Jonathan on the two occasions you met with him?

SOYINKA: Oh its more than two occasions, but two in recent times. I will tell you one interesting aspect of what we discussed. I will reveal to you that Jonathan did not know that the nation had been compromised so badly in this telephone thing with the King of Morocco. I was the one who told him when we met over an issue and I said to him, 'by the way, how is the king of Morocco? Jonathan didn't know what I was talking about'. When I mentioned the telephone issue, he thought I was talking about his campaign for the ADB managing director for which he was lobbying other Head of States. He said 'I haven't spoken to him in a long time', and I said 'no, you spoke to him a few days ago.' He said 'no, I intend to speak with him, I even asked my foreign ministry to link me up with him because I am campaigning for a candidate but I haven't spoken to the king of Morocco'. Then I said to him, 'you better go and read the newspapers of last week'. And I can tell you, he didn't know.So can you imagine that the president did not know that a scandal had developed that involved a withdrawal of an ambassador! And again, I am revealing this to you since this interview won't be published till after the elections because I wouldn't want to be seen as campaigning for or against one side.It shows how in deep trouble governance can be; governance can dig itself into a huge hole and not even know it's in there. The statement that was issued was issued the night when I met him.

ZT: So are you saying Jonathan was caged?

SOYINKA: Correct. There are forces around Jonathan, you put your fingers around it, which he himself does not understand and that is why I stressed that, you've got to choose your circle of advisers very carefully, when you are in charge. He's been caged; things are going on in his ministry that he did not know about.On a lighter note, I asked him, 'what are you doing about madam', because that one seems to be embarrassing the nation as usual because that seems to be her function as so called first lady. You go to a section of the country and tell your supporters to stone those who campaign for change and you insult another part of the nation by calling them those who produce children that they cannot look after. That woman should be charged for incitement, chaos; it's incredible that she is allowed to run loose.

ZT: What was his reply?

SOYINKA: I am not going to tell his response (laughs...). But I am free to tell you what I said, it will be an abuse of privilege if I tell you his response.

ZT: Your are widely considered as the godfather of cultism in Nigeria because of your role as co-founder of Pyrates Confraternity in your days a student of the University College, Ibadan.

SOYINKA: (Cuts in) Because those who say that are willfully ignorant. Everybody knows that fraternities are a normal culture in all colleges. It exists in all colleges. President Clinton was a member of a fraternity. In fact, anybody who goes to College in the United States is a member of a College fraternity. There is absolutely nothing evil or occultic about fraternity. But here , the media is largely responsible for fuelling the ignorance of society of the word cultism and fraternity. This is a disservice and I have said it again and again. There are evil cults, whose members must prove themselves by going to rape. There are others whose entry test is to slash or beat somebody or rob, it has nothing to do with College fraternity. The media owes the responsibility to constantly tell the public the truth. But they go on and children grow up believing that college fraternity is Satanic, demonic, and this is wrong. I was on the Disciplinary Committee in University of Ife. It will surprise you to know the number of students who we recommended for expulsion as a result of cult activities; despite the spineless attitude of some members on the committee who would beg for clemency for children of the elite. If you know the people that were involved, Commissioners of Police were involved, always writing letters. Imagine, a student just gang raped a girl because he is a member of a cult and you ask me to review that violation! These are letters which I received from the elites of the society because their wards were involved in occultic activities. I said this is not fraternity, this is criminal and normally such cases should be charged before the court. But while I am a member of this College, this type of character does not belong here and must be expelled.Society itself is responsible for the degradation where it takes place from fraternity into cultism but the distinction must be made. The Buccaneers call themselves a fraternity; they originated from the original Pyrates Confraternity. They were thrown out for misbehaving and destroying the efforts of the fraternity. Black Axe, these are cults, the leaders know, they won't deny it.What we formed in my University days was anti-corruption and justice-seeking student organization, not a cult group as many ignorant Nigerians want to make believe. I am still a member of Pyrates confraternity and anyone who wants to accuse me of cultism is making a big mistake and incidentally, there have been cases where the Court declared the Pyrates confraternity as non occultic or secret society. The judgments are there and yet the public is still ignorant of the clear difference. It is when they are fighting Wole Soyinka that is when they say Wole Soyinka is the father of cultism, their father is the founder of cultism (laughter).

ZT: How would you describe your only experience in government as Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission?

SOYINKA: First, let's situate my involvement, so you can understand why I never considered myself 'in government'. The Corps was my very own idea. I invented the Road Safety Corps in the Old Oyo State days, while I was teaching at the former University of Ife. I was tired of picking up bodies on the Ife-Ibadan highway - which I dubbed the Ife-Ibadan Slaughter Slab. I got sick of scooping up the brains of my students from the tarmac after supposedly stuffing them with knowledge. I became a regular feature in the UCH emergency section where I routinely deposited the mangled. Nigerian road users' stupidity, their irresponsibility enraged me on every trip etc. etc. - not to mention the superfluous presence of the police. They hadn't the slightest interest in road sanity, only checking 'partik'lars' and collecting private tolls. So, call it an act of self-interest if you like, trying to save myself from high-blood pressure or even potential homicide - because, sometimes, I wanted to KILL some drivers! Well, one Sunday, after a particularly stressful trip, I locked myself in my university office and fleshed out the idea of a civilian volunteer 'brigade', backed by a handful of uniformed corps. I sent it to the then governor, General David Jemibewon...and that was how it all began.Later the politicians chased the Corps from the Federal Roads, using an antiquated colonial law. It was an inhuman act, since the Corps had recorded such remarkable success. Of course the death statistics rose astronomically, and we were invited to turn this state initiative into a federal one - under a military government. They were losing their finest officers on Nigerian roads, not on the battlefield, so they sent Bolaji Akinyemi to me as emissary. Some other states had emulated Oyo - they all came to Oyo for training, so the nationwide expansion was not too difficult.Now this will interest you. With the brief mention I have already made of police malfunction, even before the Corps was formally inaugurated, I set up a secret Monitoring Unit, all volunteers. That was how we weeded out the misfits so early, and earned a reputation for the cleanest agency in all of Nigeria. The road users learnt that they were in trouble if they offered a bribe. We even banned pleading, begging, including that nauseating habit of drivers and their passengers prostrating themselves on the road for leniency. I loathed that abject, self-abasing culture. I still do. The Road Safety Corps was justly feared. That reputation endured until Obasanjo came into power, merged the Corps with the police - for reasons best known to him. A few years later the National Assembly forced him to rescind that decision but of course by then, the damage was already done. My 'incorruptible' had imbibed the culture of wetin you carry?

ZT: After the Road Safety experience, you have not taken up any appointment in government. Why is this so?

SOYINKA: Only if an aggressive policy of protection is guaranteed for those who undertake such risk-laden assignments. And by aggressive I mean, criminal prosecution against those who attempt to smear the reputation of anti-corruption leaders and impugn their integrity. I told you about the success of the Monitoring squad in eliminating corruption. Well, it cost me dear. As I have often stressed, "Corruption Fights Back". It fights back desperately, dispensing calumny and shoveling dirt with abandon. Corruption never gives up, it only lies in wait. Each time I fought the government on any issue - you could guarantee the timing - those slime merchants went to work! I sued, they begged for mercy and I settled for published retractions. But they were only re-grouping. They resumed their campaign, I sued again, and won. Back they came again, under Sani Abacha, so back we went to the courts - the last case was decided only a few months ago, and of course I was awarded damages - that is, twenty something years afterwards.When the criminals found that I couldn't be moved, they attacked my wife - then my daughter. That's how unconscionable Corruption is. Each filed suits against the trash purveyors and each time they were awarded damages. It's bad enough that I should expend my time and energy, why should my family come into it? That sickens me. About time the state took a hand - unless of course it believes that even agencies like yours can handle corruption without civilian involvement!

ZT: With your constant criticism of government and your views on purposeful leadership, shouldn't you be seeking an elective office to lead by example?

SOYINKA: Thank goodness, that is now a purely academic question. At eighty, I must be counted senile to attempt to stand for office.

ZT: Why are you not a member of any political party in Nigeria?

SOYINKA: Temperament. In any case, I did try to set up a political party - as a platform for a new generation. Ironically, it lost steam when the members found I was dead serious about NOT contesting any office. They came in mostly on personalized grounds, not on faith in a carefully worked out manifesto. But the party still exists - at least as a movement.

ZT: Some people say the reason you are not a card carrying member of any political party is because you are a lone ranger who finds it difficult to work in a collective. How true is this?

SOYINKA: Far too sweeping a claim. Those with whom I've worked politically etc. have come to acknowledge my capacity for team work. Ask for voiced observations during the 2-year long PRONACO initiative. However, there's some truth in it. I tend to work best as a one-man Task Force, including even the roles of messenger, coffee maker and office cleaner.

ZT: How are you able to sustain friendship with politicians who are known to be corrupt?

SOYINKA: "Known to be corrupt? 'Known' is a presumptive claim. When I set up the Monitoring Unit for the Corps I knew what I was doing. I understood the nature of our society from which the Corps would be drawn, so I took pre-emptive measures. Next to the commodities of corruption, and religion, however, Nigeria is the world capital of rumour mongering, so I wanted to nail offenders with no route for escape. Now, am I supposed to do the same for all of Nigeria? You, the EFCC, ICPC, the numerous anti-graft divisions of the police - you must do your job. Identify, investigate and prosecute.Now, I am going to come closer to specificities. I cannot pretend not to know one or two names among my acquaintances who are presumed to have a cloud of corruption over their heads. I shall not mention names, since this would only contribute unfairly towards the promotion of such allegations. What I can testify to is that one such prominent figure - if we are thinking of the same businessman and politician - was a front-line collaborator during the anti-Abacha struggle. After that nightmare, when Obasanjo began to flout the constitution, humiliate the courts, and generally prove his real nature in an attempt to reduce this nation to yet another slave plantation, that individual earned further spurs by standing firm. Your agency invited him for questioning, and he later gave me his account of what transpired. If you do find a cause to charge him with corruption, I expect him to be subjected to the same legal processes as any other citizen. If found guilty, then he must take his punishment and make public restitution. Until then, I can only judge him on what I know to be true, and that is - an astute and dogged political fighter and comrade-in-arms. Otherwise, how am I different from those who defame my own person? What then separates me from slanderous whelps like Sanni Abacha's offspring - just to name one notorious beneficiary of massive, internationally proven corruption - who declares that I am no better than his father!

ZT: As a global citizen are you often embarrassed by Nigeria's reputation for corruption?SOYINKA: As a global citizen, I sometimes feel like denying my identity.

ZT: Have you personally found yourself in a situation where you were asked to offer bribe for a service? If yes, how did you deal with the situation?

SOYINKA: Certainly. Such people did not repeat their attempt. Sadly, however, I discovered in one particular case that a colleague went and paid the bribe on my behalf, just to get our mission fulfilled. That was painful, and it strained our friendship.

ZT: You were once supportive of President Jonathan. At what point did you decide to withdraw your support from the president?

SOYINKA: No, it was never anything personal. We marched in order to protect the constitution, not the person of Jonathan. We retained a cordial relationship during his tenure however, despite some attacks I felt compelled to launch on him - and his wife. Jonathan committed some truly alarming errors of governance. He was propelling himself towards outright fascism.

ZT: Some observers say you have a tendency to always find fault in others.

How correct is this?

SOYINKA: Why should that be surprising? Pity you can't be present during my periodic fault-finding sessions with my image in the mirror!*

THE VIEWS OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PAMBAZUKA NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM* BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.

AfricaFiles - solidarity and justice for Africa
300 Bloor St. West, Room 21
Toronto, ON M5S 1W3, Canada.
Email: info@africafiles.org
Website: www.africafiles.org
Social media: Facebook, Podcast, Twitter.

To unsubscribe to this e-mail service, login to your account at http://www.africafiles.org/userlogin.asp and modify your subscriptions.