Entertainer and Social Critic, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly boy, has urged Igbos agitating passionately to break away from Nigeria to put their Biafra dream on a pause mode.
The enigmatic Charly Boy, in a note to his fellow Igbo people said that it was regrettable that they have failed to learn from the lessons of the ‘genocide’ that preceded the fall of Biafra. He also asserted that Igbos have neglected to hold their leaders accountable in the face of abject failure on their part. “My dear brothers and sisters must know that the development of the region is horrible because the leaders in the region have failed. Politically, Religiously, Societally and Communally,” he said.
Addressing Igbo youths in particular, he wrote, “It is particularly pathetic and unfortunate when some ignorant youths talk about this illusion called Biafra. History should teach us that Nationhood is Bloody, Hard and almost impossible when fantasy is the currency of demand. Even as Nigerians, see how our docility is killing our humanity. Didn’t the fall of Biafra after the genocide and the suffering of my people teach us anything? Haven’t we been marginalised enough? I Believe the Failure of the igbo nation is the fault of the people 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?
He also said that it was ‘insanity’ for Igbos to blame others for their woes when the others also have their challenges.
“Our problem may not after all be the man in Aso Rock from Daura or the ordinary Hausa or Yoruba man on the Streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Warri or Ogbomosho. The 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 suffering of the People from the South East is also the suffering of the people from the other geopolitical zones in Nigeria. 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; What Nonsense and Insanity! Now how do you begin to imagine that while the agitation for the state of Biafra is being demanded by the gullible Ibo youths, those who have been or are in position of authority are either not interested or are continuing their expansive investments in other part of Nigeria? Who dem dey deceive? They divide us daily with Religion, Tribalism, Ethnicity and Petty Bigotry even among the Tribes and Ethnic composition in the South East there is divisiveness. Why is Namdi Kanu yet to realize that the Dreams of Nationhood are lost in the Altar of Deception.
“The Failure of Leadership is evident in our agitation for Fairness, Justice and Equality for every Nigerian not just for every Ibo man. And so the Mind of the typical Ibo Leader Needs a Revolution to be realigned for the Interest of the People rather than the interest of their pockets. Biafra is not the Solution, I truly don’t think so. So, Igbo ndi Oma. Let’s focus on our home land and begin to demand accountability and responsibility from many of our Scammers, Riffraff’s and Fraudsters in the Ibo Kingdom called leaders. Let’s us pause on the fantasy tagged Biafra for now. Let’s us dutifully work ourselves back into reckoning, by industrialising our home base.”