Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has issued a 30-day ultimatum to those accusing him of parading fake academic credentials, urging them to submit evidence to relevant agencies for investigation. In a statement titled ‘A moral call to amoral conscripts,’ Soyinka stated that if found culpable, he would voluntarily strip himself of any titles and honours he has received throughout his career.
The accusations stem from a 1998 article by Joseph Dahip, referencing a 1996 report attributed to Prof James Gibbs. The report challenged Soyinka’s claim of obtaining a first-class bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Leeds University, alleging he obtained a second-class degree. Soyinka denied the allegations and awaits a decision from his lawyers on whether to take legal action.
Soyinka declared his willingness to waive protection under the statute of limitations and called for the invocation of laws governing fraudulent academic claims. He expects accusers to submit evidence to investigative agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, within 30 days. If allegations are proven baseless, Soyinka suggested a symbolic act of remorse for the accusers, urging them to jump off the bridge of the symbolic River Niger, metaphorically linked and wearing life jackets.
Soyinka copied the statement to various entities, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Pan-African Writers Association, Nigerian Association of Authors, Nobel Foundation, Stockholm, the University of Leeds, the alleged Bristol Primary Source, his school, and the media.
