Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Friday addressed common misconceptions about the Pyrates Confraternity.
According to The PUNCH, during a lecture at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Soyinka emphasized that the Pyrates Confraternity, which he co-founded in 1952 with six other University of Ibadan students, is not a nefarious secret cult but rather a group committed to justice and national progress.
In his lecture, titled ‘The Baby or the Bathwater: Navigating the Dark Tunnels of Systemic Corruption to Nationhood’, Soyinka condemned corruption as a devastating force that undermines great nations and disadvantages their people.
He stressed that overcoming the pervasive corruption in Nigeria requires a fundamental shift in attitudes and a collective commitment to doing what is right.
Soyinka’s remarks came during the 26th Annual Wole Soyinka Lecture, organized by the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, in celebration of his 90th birthday.
He also reflected on former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola’s speech, noting that corruption in Nigeria spans all levels of society and requires a united effort to combat effectively.
He said, “The particular aspect of this lecture that struck me is corruption. Corruption is not just when you exchange money; it is a cankerworm that eats deep into the fabric of society from the top to the bottom and corrupts our very nature, our very existence.
“And one aspect of the lecture emphasised that the cure for corruption begins from the inside. Yes, we can talk about institutions, government, and the exercise of power unfairly and inordinately to the disadvantage of the rest of the community as part of corruption, but ultimately, the solution, both short-term and long-term, must begin from the inside, and this is one of the motives for establishing the Pyrates Confraternity 62 years ago.”
During the event, Soyinka clarified misconceptions about the Pyrates Confraternity, asserting that it is not a dangerous secret cult but a group dedicated to justice and national improvement.
He, alongside Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, also launched “Ship Ahoy,” a book chronicling the 60-year history of the confraternity.
Earlier, in his lecture, former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, praised Soyinka as a profound gift to the nation, the continent, and civilization.
Fashola highlighted that while financial corruption is condemnable, the most detrimental form is the erosion of cherished moral values, which corrupts societal norms and lifestyles.
He said, “When I was in office as a minister, the Federal Road Safety Corps usually made copies of the monthly reports on road crashes available to me. The report is actually for the office of the Secretary-General of the Federation, but I used to get a copy.
“In October 2022, a total of 1,111 road crashes were reported across the country, out of which 449 people died, representing six per cent of 6458 people involved in the accidents, with 2780 injured.
“The analysis showed a three per cent decrease when compared with the previous month but a 10 per cent increase when compared with the figure for October 2021.
“This goes to show that an average of 400 people are lost monthly to road crashes in the country, but I doubt if the insecurity which is always an issue during campaigns is responsible for such a huge loss of lives every month in the country.”
