Entertainment icon and rights activists, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly boy has said that corruption and impunity in governance have robbed posterity of a rich existence in Nigeria.
Oputa said this when he led youths to a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, against what he described as bad governance in Nigeria.
The protest which was tagged “Our Mumudondo,” saw the protesters matching through the major streets in the state capital, clutching various placards and singing songs which condemned what the group described as spate of bad governance and corruption in the country.
According to Oputa, the movement was an umbrella association for “every frustrated, angry, oppressed Nigerian, and I am the President.”
He asserted that for too long, Nigerians had suffered worrisome levels of deprivation of amenities while state funds are fleeced away by public office holders.
He said: “People need to ask questions though we are our own worst enemies. We have been quiet for too long. We want to aggressively sensitise the people that nothing can change overnight except we make a move.
“Corruption has stolen our grandchildren’s future; there is impunity in the land; and there is criminality in government whereas public office holders ought to serve us and not the other way round.”
Oputa charged Imo youths to rise up and take over the future, noting that the politicians were just interested in wallowing in endless corruption.
Law scholar and guest speaker, Prof Francis Dike regretted that almost 60 years after he protested as an undergraduate, colonialism still existed wherein politicians fleeced public funds and stashed them away in tanks and abroad.
Dike lampooned leaders who he said travel abroad and enjoy the workings of an organised society but return to Nigeria to build amenities like roads which cave in while still under construction.
“The time has come for the youths to rise up and demand good governance, no more corruption and impunity”, Prof Dike said.
On his part, Chief Ejike Uche enjoined everyone irrespective of political affiliations to join the movement to demand inclusiveness and good governance.
“I’m calling on everyone to join this movement. Your power is in your legs and hands. Do not praise them when they are stealing our money. Let us kick them out,” he said.
The rally attracted youths in their numbers who adorned black T.shirts with “our mumu don do” inscriptions and carried different placards demanding a stop to corruption and recklessness in public office.
