Group plans to occupy National Assembly Tuesday

Popular musician, Charles Oputa, also known as Charly Boy, has called on Nigerians to support the planned civil protest scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday.

He made the call in a telephone chat with PREMIUM TIMES, where he disclosed that the planned protest march is being put together by the “Occupy Unlimited,” described as a civil society group that advocates good governance and corruption-free society.

Charly Boy, the national coordinator of the advocacy group, said “corrupt leadership has ruined the country over time and rendered ordinary Nigerians penniless as a result of inept governance.”

He disclosed that his group plans to occupy the National Assembly.

“We are going to Occupy the National Assembly, reasons being that a lot of corrupt mindless looting is going on there. And after that we will focus on other ministries and MDAS that are neck deep in corruption”

“Over 170 million people are living at the mercy of corrupt politicians who have mastered the process of creating division within their own people through ethnicity religion, corruption, and frivolous issues,” the singer cum activist said.

He said the protest was to tell politicians at all levels that they must be held accountable and be selfless in their service to the country.

“This is a process of holding politicians accountable not only to their promises, but in their service to the Nigerian nation.

“The mass protest will begin at the Unity Fountain in Abuja down to the National Assembly.

“We are a coalition of ordinary Nigerians from different parts of the country, with no political affiliations; we believe in the interest of our country.

“We also believe strongly in the fight against corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Retson Tedheke, a co-convener of the conference and Public Affairs Officer of the group, said the organisation is also advocating a unicameral legislature for Nigeria to reduce cost of governance.

He disclosed that Nigeria’s democracy was one of the most expensive in the world, saying that this was no longer sustainable in the midst of the present economic recession in the country.

“Nigerian Lawmakers must begin a process of reducing the Bi-Cameral Legislature to Uni-Cameral Legislature.

“Let them initiate the process of a referendum to review the Constitution, specifically with the aim of scrapping the Senate.

Mr. Tedheke disclosed that it was also proper for legislators to ensure that their budget, running cost and other expenditures be made open to the public at all times.

He stressed the need for transparency, accountability and effective monitoring of Federal Government expenditure, the NASS and all agencies of government to ensure that everything went to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“We need all Nigerians to give their voice in this call to have a national rebirth,” Mr. Tedheke said.