A group of protesters led popular entertainer, commonly known as Area Fada, Mr. Charles
Oputa have hit the streets of Abuja to lash out at President Muhammadu
Buhari for his alleged inaction in the face of graft accusations
involving top members of his government.
The protesters are demanding the President to either act or quit office.
Speaking to reporters, a co-convener of the protest, Deji Adeyanju,
said the essence of the protest was to ask President Buhari, “pertinent
questions about the seriousness and sincerity of his anti-graft war.
“If President Buhari once ordered the raiding of the homes of judges
suspected to be tainted with corruption and also directed the
handcuffing and dragging to court of alleged corrupt members of the
opposition, we demand similar treatment for the suspended SGF, Babachir
Lawal and other top government officials,” he said.
Also speaking, the convener of Campaign for Democracy, Bako Usman,
contended that if President Buhari fails to take action against
allegedly corrupt members of his cabinet, he should quit office.
“You said you will fight corruption and Nigerians voted you on the
basis of that promise. Quit office if you cannot prosecute your
allegedly corrupt friends. It means you are also corrupt,” he said.
On his part, Ariyo Atoye who convenes pro-democracy group, the
Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC),
urged the Senate not to approve the $5.5bn foreign loan request made by
President Buhari unless he shows genuine commitment to fight corruption
within his own government.
“There is no basis for the $5.5bn foreign loan request, if corruption has not been fought to a standstill.
“The President Buhari also needs to tell Nigerians how the loan would be repaid,” he added.
Summarizing the points made by the previous speakers, Charlyboy
insisted that the group would not back down on its call for the
President to act or quit office if he cannot fight corruption without
minding whose ox is gored.
The protest was relatively peaceful, as the police and the Department
of State Security (DSS) kept watch over the activities of Charlyboy and
his group, contrary to what transpired during the resume or resign
protest when security men dispersed them with attack dogs, water cannons
and teargas.