A group of protesters led by self-acclaimed 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.
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