LAGOS – Charles Oputa – Areafada, popularly known as Charly-Boy is the president of frustrated Nigerians and Odudubariba of Africa. In this interview with some selected group of Journalists, he speaks on what his national campaign project – ‘OurMumuDondo’ all about; that it is a National clarion call to all Nigerians to stand and fight; it is a call to engage, to protest and occupy all Arms of Government; that Nigeria is terminally ill from decades of misrule, impunity by vile sorcerers, ignorant drunken politicians, terrorist in agbada brutalizing the poor masses, and riffraffs who are prepared to drag the nation down into the shit pit;
EXCERPTS:
These days you have suddenly become aggressively very vocal on national issues, why is there so much anger in your tone, what are you angry about?
I am angry because am a frustrated Nigerian. Because people like me, you and millions of Nigerians could be doing much better than we are doing presently if only we had an enabling environment. I was born in the early fifties when there was so much prospect in this country, when premium was placed on value, honesty, integrity and love for country.
My dear country has gone to the dogs. The Giant of Africa has become the laughing stock of the rest of the world. How did we get here? How and why did we allow this rot to consume a once upon a time beautiful country with so much prospect, Kai!!!! kilode? Our Mumu Never Do?
Where are the few good men and women who have decided to keep quiet in the face of this kind of evil. Imagine the frustration, the poverty, the joblessness, the hopelessness in a country that can offer its people so much more but have given nothing but pain, misery and so much disunity amongst its people. Yes am angry.
My country, Nigeria is terminally ill from decades of misrule, impunity by vile sorcerers, ignorant drunken politicians, terrorist in agbada brutalizing the poor masses, and riffraffs who are prepared to drag the nation down into the shit pit. Yes, I am mad as hell, Na like dis we go dey go?
Now I hear sounds of very irresponsible and provocative utterances filling the air. Burning up with hate messages, tension rising, poverty ravaging, consumed by anger, beefing and hatred. Social media filled with ultimatums, datelines and fake news propagating the Old Testament message of an eye for an eye that will soon leave all of us blind. Oh God, where are you? Yes am mad, am angry.
You are involved in a national campaign, what is #OurMumuDonDo about?
You see, There comes a time in the history of a suffering people when the status quo that has eternally failed can no longer be sustained: when the hungry, angry, vexed, and frustrated are bonded in a coalition to reclaim a country seeking a new direction and a new path. When Political Leadership has failed from generation to generation, as is the case with Nigeria, and the docility of the populace is almost a norm; the emancipation of the mind from mental slavery becomes an eternal battle for which fighting becomes Godly.
#OURMUMUDONDO is a National clarion call to all Nigerians to stand and fight, because no Politician will fight for the Interest of the Nigerian People, it is impossible, It is a Call to engage, to protest and Occupy all Arms of Government until good governance is seen and felt by the People. It is a Call to reawaken the Spartan of the Labour Union of old in the youths. This is a Call driven by Nationalism and Nigerianization.
OurMumuDonDo is a movement of the people by the people for the people. This is the genuine democratic and nationalistic movement.
When you say a coalition of the angry, vexed, and frustrated, does this imply violence in any way?
No. Not in anyway. However, when the People are tired of political exploitation, A Nation is Reawakened. When Politicians continue in the path of Reckless Criminality, A Mob is encouraged. And it is because of this anger and frustration in the atmosphere that we have decided to rein in, coordinate and channel our anger towards our common enemy under the aegis of the Justice Oputa Foundation.
Why the Justice Oputa Foundation?
Why not? Because Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa bequeathed a legacy of incorruptibility to this nation, it’s on record. And that legacy and value, today, is extremely scarce. So, what better way to champion an honest cause for emancipation?
What is your take on Biafra. Before Nnamdi Kanu’s release you visited him in court, probably in a show of solidarity. Do you support the secession of the Igbo nation?
For whatever reason, no man deserves to be ill treated in his fatherland as Nnamdi Kanu. Hence, the need for my inclusion in the ever-growing call for his release at the time. I am for equal rights and justice, period. Advocating for the okada community doesn’t make me an okada rider. Advocating for gay rights, doesn’t make me gay. So, agitating for Nnamdi’s release doesn’t make me a Biafran supporter. Biafra for me is a mindset. If there was no great injustice in the land, there would be no call for Biafra. So Don’t get it twisted.
Sometime in January 2017, I wrote about my thoughts on the Biafra agitation and how I do not consider it a feasible adventure especially when there are so many important things my Igbo kinsmen can alternatively dedicate their all to. I titled the article “The illusion called Biafra”, those who haven’t read it should read it up because what I wrote therein will always be my stance on Biafra.
Unfortunately the dreams of nationhood is lost on the altar of deception, and my Igbo brothers must be circumspect on the fact/ history and not be hoodwinked into some insane propaganda that will only lead to more wahala. So, instead of Biafra, we should channel our energies and abilities towards developing the South-East to become the economic-hub of Nigeria. Igbo nation and my people are great but for us to move forward we must kill this our individualistic tendencies, and come together to do great things.
The fall of Biafra after the genocide, starvation, and immense suffering of my people should teach us something.
I Believe the Failure of the Igbo nation is the fault of the people, her so called elites and decision-makers. Why have we not poured our energy, capacity and ability into making the South East the Dubai of the Nation as well as the engine room of the Nigerian Economy? Who would be our leaders when the south east is infested with political power-grabbers, 419ers, mindless criminals and looters of our commonwealth and resources? Need I mention names?
Our problem is the lack of men of integrity and a progressive mind set. We lack the right kind of leadership that will fight for the interest of the People. Let it be clear to all that the sufferings and poverty of the People from the South East is also the sufferings and poverty of the peoples from the other geopolitical zones in Nigeria including my northern brothers. Even the nascent anti-corruption fight in the country has seen all tribe accordingly represented. It is therefore retrospectively insane to begin to think that a people with a problem would suddenly be relieved when they are attached with a tag #BIAFRA; Abegi.
Therefore, I conclusively insist that Our Mumu Don Do because; The Failure of Leadership is evident in our agitation for Fairness, Justice and Equality for every Nigerian not just for every Igbo man. And so the Mind of the typical Igbo Leader Needs a Revolution so that it can be realigned for the Interest of the People rather than the interest of a few.
Let’s focus on our homeland, our states, and begin to demand accountability and responsibility from many of our Scammers, Riffraffs and Fraudsters in the entire nation.
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state was quoted as saying that Nigeria cannot break up because members of the elite are united in preserving their advantages over the masses irrespective of their differences of tribe and religion.
Straight from the horse’s mouth! A candid admission that it is the yahoo yahoo leadership who run Nigeria’s affairs, that have kept “the common man” squalid, wretched and “in hell” despite the nation’s enormous oil wealth. We see the ruling elite quarrelling and calling each other bad names—but it’s just a game intended to fool the public: in reality they are quite united in quietly sharing the money and delivering little or nothing to their various constituencies. Eg, Babangida’s daughters wedding, a show of private Jets when the country don’t even have a national carrier. They have a stake in keeping the country exactly as it is—weak, confused and easy to exploit.
Again and again, I dare to ask that we pause on the fantasy tagged Biafra for now. Let us dutifully work ourselves back into reckoning, by Fighting for Fairness, Justice and Equality for all Nigerians; Not Igbo’s Only; Yorubas Only or Hausas Only but all Nigerians.
What’s your reaction to the ultimatum given to the Igbo’s by a northern group to leave the north by October 1st?
Ha ha ha, I laugh in an Igbotic manner. I may be a dreamer, but I believe in the unity of Nigeria. I believe we all need each other, I believe that there is strength in our diversity, but I also know that there is so much disunity, injustices, hatred, poverty and hopelessness all being fanned by THEM against US to keep us in perpetual Mumuism.
My Own Mumu Don Do.
Even though our brothers in the north have presided over the Nigerian state more than any other ethnic group, is the north the Dubai of Nigeria?
Why is it that over 25million children are out of school in Nigeria. Out of which 18 million are from the north whilst Kano state alone has 5million beggars. Go Google it.
According to the UNDP, 82% of northern Nigerians are living below the poverty line, why?
Nigeria has the highest number of young girls suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the world. And 90 per cent of those young girls are from the north. Why?
Why is it that the base of pedophiia, child sex, child slavery and child marriage on the African continent is northern Nigeria?
According to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo the northern states “have the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country, the lowest rate of child enrolment in schools, the highest number of unemployed young people, the highest levels of poverty and faces the challenge of inter-ethic and inter-religious conflict including the Boko Haram terrorism.” Why?
According to Nasir El Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna state in northern Nigeria, if the north-western zone of the country were to ever find itself on its own it would be poorer and more ravaged by war than Afghanistan. Why did he say that?
What’s all this gragra for? Who are they deceiving? My Mumu don do tey tey. I know and understand the game. A lot of my northern brothers have come to my rescue in my dark hours, so has my Yoruba brothers, my Ijaw brothers and if truth be told, more than even my own Igbo brothers. Yes!!!!!! Who is fooling who?
Is OurMumuDonDo a political movement?
Of course not. The movement is not a political movement. Isn’t that why we have failed as a people and a nation? I mean, selfish political ambitions and perpetual political criminality is what damaged our national fabrics and plunged our nationalistic potentials to this despicable state. So, NO, the movement is devoid of any political, religious and tribalistic colorations.
Summarise for us The Movement’s (ourmumudondo) mission statement?
Our Mumu Don Do movement is a network of activists, artiste, artisans, workers, farmers, traders, unemployed and everyone else like you. In short, we are the people, inflamed by love of fatherland, angered at the rape of our dignity and prosperity, determined to rise up and hold one another, to march down and uphold the dignity and prosperity of all Nigerians.
We are the whispering voice that is now ringing in this jungle, in this forests, asking questions and demanding answers.
Our aim is to popularise politics and end elite conspiracy by getting the people to March with their feet and their votes. To democratise politics and end “commercial transaction” by upturning the tables of money bags and moneychangers. The movement wants to idealise politics and end the “stomach infrastructure” by infusing party politics with values and principles.
Our Mission is to mobilize the people, harness their intellectual, artistic and cultural resources and network them into a non political movement to fight back, to defeat political elitism, corruption, incompetence and help to redirect governance towards empowerment, dignity and freedom for the people.
We intend to take Nigeria back, to make Nigeria work for all of us, not a few.
Many in the past who claimed to represent the people either jumped ship, abandoned the struggle midway or compromised, what makes you or this struggle any different?
First of all, I am not many people. Secondly am not your regular Nigerian. I may live in Nigeria but the Nigerian way has never lived in me. I am stubborn about the things I get involved with and nothing, not even death, can dissuade me. My antecedents are pointers to that. I built an image that continues to tickle most Nigerians. For the past 40yrs I have remained faithful even in the face of being misunderstood, branded irresponsible and crazy by conservative superficial Nigerians, I never gave up. Even when in the beginning my own family didn’t understand or approve I stuck to my gun. I have been in a marriage for almost 4 decades with the same woman when many celebrity marriages are crashing up and down. I have remained loyal to my vows in the face of unimaginable distractions. I have never chosen money over my convictions, I even don’t have respect for money so I know I can never be rich because the things that mean the most to me are extinct. I come from a different stuck and apples never fall too far from its tree. Yes, you can safely say that I am an exceptional Nigerian and I have a funny feeling that I will probably die that way.
Who should participate in the movement?
Nigerians who are disillusioned and disenchanted with the failings of Government, Political Leadership, Moral Institutions and General Societal Decay responsible for the underdevelopment of the Nigerian People. We are open to collaborating with all Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Civil Society Organisations (CSOs); Activists; Revolutionist Movements; Journalists, Musicians, Photographers, Painters, Filmmakers, Poets, Designers, Developers, Cartoonists, Podcasters, etcetera. This is an All-Nigerian Platform and we are Determined to make Nigeria Better through Sustained Activism.
What do you seek to achieve with the movement?
First is to completely overhaul the nonchalant and apathetical mindset of Nigerians. The ehn-e-no-concern me attitude must be fought defiantly because it is crippling our nation. This movement is a Call to Action; a Call to Reason; A Call to Nigerianization; A Call to Nationalism and a Call to defiantly Confront the common Enemy of the people – The Mindlessly Corrupt Politicians with the Capacity for Audacious impunity and Insatiable Desire to Loot our Commonwealth. Second, is to reawaken the Spartan spirit of holding government accountable for their failures by Engaging, Protesting and Occupying, until we are heard and until we start to see actions and results that will better the lives of the more than 60% suffering population in Nigeria.
I know that you know that you are up against people with unlimited resources. Are you not worried for your family, are you not afraid?
So I should roll over and die or go hide under my bed? What else would you have me do abegi?
Please, do not tell me to be careful…Try not to be emotional with me…Stop telling me to be Afraid of Death…I am fed up with people reminding me that Nigeria will not recognize me in Death. This Battle is the people’s battle, it is for our Family, Children and Future; For Every Suffering Nigerian Family, Child & Future…If my Death in this Struggle will Liberate the Nigerian State….I am willing to give my LIFE for this Nigerian Project. The Nigerian People did not call for this Fight; I Charles Oputa did not call for this fight. It was forced on us by Politicians…The Nigerian People are being LIED to and being DECEIVED to believe that they are not Capable of a FIGHTBACK…This must end. From Sokoto to Owerri the story is the same of poverty, hopelessness, frustration. Nothing is Capable of Stopping this Noble Nigerian Dream…The Reality is Clear, this must be a Destiny to fight for…We are calling Nigerians out…I NO DEY FEAR.
For how long will our Politicians use the people during Elections and dump us for their Selfish Greedy Interest when we need them? For how long will Nigerians wait for the right and perfect time to respond to this Suffering and Insanity? For how long will the people SUFFER, be in PERPETUAL HUNGER and live in ABJECT POVERTY without JOBS when our Politicians loot us dry with the AUDACITY of IMPUNITY? Why would you think that any of our Looting Politician will fight for us after several decades of personal enrichment and the looting of our COMMONWEALTH? This battle to overcome the Evil Politicians is a straight fight between GOOD and EVIL. The Insensitivity and the Saboteur Tendencies of Criminal Politicians has now become a Monster that the Nigerian People must fight to a Standstill… We are VEXED, We are HARDENED and We are READY for a FIGHTBACK. No one can Imagine the Magnitude of our ANGER…For the Average Nigerian.
From Lagos to Port Harcourt from Kano to Akure, Niger to Kaduna, The Nation must be re-energized. Nigeria must Move forward. Our Destination is Good Governance. The Nigerian People must get into the Revolutionary mood. We don start, Any Arm of Government that fails will be Occupied. This is an opportunity to Honour Your Country and Secure the Future of Your Children. Nothing Else Matters. You, The Nigerian People have the Power to Change this Country. Do not play small. Make the Move and Rise Up. Nigeria Calls. We must Answer.
It is time to Register on line and Join us in this struggle, @ www.ourmumudondo.org because This Revolution To Liberate our Country from the fangs of sustained criminality is Here.
Statistics show that there are more people off the internet than on the Internet Since you say this movement is for the masses, how do you plan to reach out to these set of people who are not on the Internet or are they excluded from the movement?
No. They are not excluded from this movement. And that is why we have set up several mechanisms both on the Internet and off the internet. Although there is a limit to how much I can say on Air, nonetheless, I can assure you that there are plans already in motion to domesticate this movement so it can reach every suffering Nigerian in their different localities.
Today in Nigeria, there is a brain drain situation because many of our intellectuals have gone in pursuit of greener pastures. You wrote a letter to Nigerians in the diaspora, beyond the Nigerians in the country, are there plans to involve those in the Diaspora in this OurMumuDonDo movement?
I still believe in Nigeria, I also believe that the salvation of our country lies in the hands of its exceptional people. I know for a fact that there are many exceptional Nigerians abroad doing great service to their immediate environment.
My letter to Nigerians in the diaspora is a passionate appeal for concerned Nigerians to do whatever they can do from wherever they are to rescue our beloved country from the brinks of collapse. I have had a lot of sleepless nights worried sick about Nigeria. However, regardless of some bad eggs, many of them abroad has made Nigeria and Nigerians very proud, because we are not all criminals and bad people.
For a lot of them who work round the clock to send money home to relatives, family and friends, I thanked them abundantly. It is their hard earned money they send home that has kept a lot of us alive today.
Of course, that is why I said earlier that this movement is for every Nigerian, both the ones within our borders and those in the diaspora. And, it will interest you to know that 15% of the registrants on #OurMumuDonDo website are Nigerians in the diaspora. And just recently, I traveled abroad to speak with the Nigerian community in Europe. Definitely, more of this will be happening as days roll by.
Now, I know you said the movement is not a political movement. But everything in this country is tied to politics. So, what role is the OurMumuDonDo movement going to play in the present-day Nigerian politics?
I am under no illusion or doubt that this movement will encourage many young selfless visionary leaders who are either being intimidated by the riffraffs in leadership, the existing political forces or simply in hiding out of fear for their lives to begin to come out and represent their people. So, this movement is not only about ending the docility of Nigerians, it is also about motivating and breathing life into the dreams of many unknown Nigerians who are hoping to lead this country in absolute genuineness.
This sounds very good. But for a movement like this to thrive, it requires ample funding. So, How do you fund this movement?
Good! Right now, we already have a group of volunteers, consisting of many frustrated Nigerians, including myself, who are fed up of the status quo. And when the mentality of a people is that We are freedom-fighters. Fighting genuinely for a nationalistic cause, and that an Injury to one is an Injury to all; continuously saying we are ready for the worse and prepared to sacrifice our all for the good of this country. Then, a movement like #OurMumuDonDo becomes a responsibility of the willing and not a burden for the unwilling. It is a movement of the suffering people, which must be owned and sponsored by the suffering people.
What is the next line of action for OurMumuDonDo movement?
The sensitization is currently going on and will continue for as long as possible. Meanwhile, there are some things that cannot be said publicly. Which is why we are encouraging Nigerians to go to www.ourmumudondo.org
to register, so we can communicate whatever we are to do next to them privately.
How can people join the movement?
To join the movement, kindly visit www.ourmumudondo.org.
Also, you can follow us on our social media platforms. On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – OurMumuDonDo.
How can people support the movement?
To support the movement, you may visit www.theoputafoundation.org.
You will find a donate now icon on the website. Once you click it, it will guide you through the process.
