Maverick activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, on Thursday, urged that corruption should be made a treasonable offence for it to be adequately tackled.
He made the call during a news conference put together by the “Occupy Unlimited” group, a civil society group that advocates good governance and corruption-free society.
Charly Boy, who is the National Coordinator of the group, said “corrupt leadership has been killing ordinary Nigerians slowly and steadily over the years.
“It is time to properly define it as ‘murder in disguise’, and treat as a treasonable offence against our dear country.
“Over 180 million people are surviving at the mercy of few politicians who have mastered the art of creating division among her own people through religion, ethnicity, corruption, and frivolous issues.”
According to the social activist, a death penalty should be introduced for all politically-corrupt persons in Nigeria if the nation really wants to be lifted out of economic hardship.
He noted that countries such as China and Pakistan were striving better because they decided to make corruption a crime that deserved capital punishment.
He advised that the immunity clause in the Nigerian constitution be reviewed, adding that “corruption is hiding under the immunity clause to loot and plunder.”
Charly Boy explained that the Occupy Unlimited Group will on Nov. 15 stage a peaceful protest in the Federal Capital Territory against corruption.
He emphasised that the protest was to tell political leaders at all levels that they must be accountable and selfless in their service to the fatherland.
“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.”
Mr Retson Tedheke, a co-convener of the conference, said the group was also advocating for a unicameral legislature for Nigeria to reduce the cost of governance.
He noted that Nigeria’s democracy was one of the most expensive in the world, adding that this was no longer sustainable in the midst of the economic recession that brought hunger in the land.
“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.
“We also demand that the Anti-Money Laundry Bill be debated and passed immediately, with full support to the President to ensure that corruption is eliminated from our country.”
Tedheke added that it was also imperative for legislators to ensure that their budget, running cost and other expenditures is made open to the public.
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.
“Every Nigerian will not be on the street of the FCT, but let us all support this initiative,
irrespective of a tribal and religious divide.”
