Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has responded to claims by the Rivers State government that its former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, spent N82 million to organize a dinner in his honour.
In a statement, Wednesday, Mr. Soyinka said the “unprecedented 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 on to anti-crime agencies to investigate the potential crime of being honoured through any occasion.”
Austin Tam-George, the Rivers State Commissioner of Information, had said the government would begin a probe to the spent funds and would demand a refund if it found Mr. Soyinka received part of the funds.
”If he agrees that he received such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State,” Mr. Tam-George said during a radio programme on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Austin Tam-George, has said the state government would investigate the N82million allegedly spent by former governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, to organise dinner in honour of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
The commissioner said the government would demand refund from Mr. Soyinka if government confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the funds.......lol @refund! This part must be a joke!
“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 on to anti-crime agencies to investigate the potential crime of being honoured through any occasion.”
Austin Tam-George, the Rivers State Commissioner of Information, had said the government would begin a probe to the spent funds and would demand a refund if it found Mr. Soyinka received part of the funds.
”If he agrees that he received such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State,” Mr. Tam-George said during a radio programme on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
Info from Premium Times.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Austin Tam-George, has said the state government would investigate the N82million allegedly spent by former governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, to organise dinner in honour of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.
The commissioner said the government would demand refund from Mr. Soyinka if government confirms that the Nobel Laureate received part of the funds.......lol @refund! This part must be a joke!
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