Television presenter, singer and activist, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa popularly known as Charly Boy, has bemoaned the heightened insecurity and deplorable state of the country.
Speaking during a recent interview, the activist declared that unless a miracle happens, it may take about 70 to 100 years for Nigeria to regain its lost glory.
“I want to warn Nigerians that the worst is yet to come but it will soon come; it is at our doorstep. The very worst, the things unheard of will soon begin to happen. This country has been badly mismanaged and damaged, for it to get better, it will take between 70 and 100 years.
“The handwriting is on the wall, you don’t need Prophet TB Joshua to tell you that ‘Nigeria don ka’ and ‘yawa dey come.’ I tell you, yawa wey people never see before, wey dem never hear before, dey come! You that you are asking me, if you look around you will see that things are no longer normal,” he said.
According to him, the only time the country experienced any serious progress was when regional governments were in place.
“The only time Nigeria had a semblance of working and that things were seemingly okay was when we had regional autonomy and the regions contributed to the centre. But that is not the case now. Another scam is the constitution, because it was the handlers of Nigeria that helped these people to figure out that kind of constitution that does not work for everybody. So, there is no way this union can go forward except we come to the table and talk about it and except we go back to the way we started, that is regional autonomy.
“For me, I will say it has to get worse before it even starts to get better. That Nigeria will be better, I am not sure it is going to happen in anyone’s lifetime. And that is saying it as I see it. In the first place, democracy is alien to the African man; we are not that sophisticated to understand the dynamism of democracy. So, when you have people from the 19th century who are in charge in the 21st century and they are trying to use the idea of the 19th century to rule in the 21st century, the engine don knock nao, how can the country work?” he stressed.
The musician also recalled a recent incident where aggrieved youths invaded his hometown, saying the situation call for sober reflection.
“The other day, my village that used to be so peaceful, one of the most peaceful places because my people are predominantly fishermen, they don’t want trouble. Sometimes I look at them as very lazy, laid-back kind people because all they know is partying. But all of a sudden that place has turned to a gangster city. Boys are carrying guns in broad daylight, going to shops to give people bills to pay to them every month; they’ve begun to burn down people’s houses; they started with my father’s house. What did my father do to them? They attempted to burn down the house.
“It was the community members who arrested the culprit and took him to the police station. But the question I’m asking myself is: Am I pissed off with the guy? But why should I? That was his own way of showing his frustration. But it is also because the government has eaten the future of our unborn generations,” he said.
