Pascal Atuma on NDDC saga: Celebrities accepting peanuts from politicians should be tried, imprisoned

Pascal Atuma, a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker, says any celebrity found collecting “peanuts” from politicians should be tried and imprisoned.

In a statement to TheCable Lifestyle on Tuesday, the ace movie director wondered why a huge number of Nigerian celebrities seem to be quiet in the wake of corruption allegations against some politicians.

Atuma, while reacting to the ongoing probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said Nigeria cannot make progress when the citizens remain mute rather than speak up against perceived ills in the system.

“And any celebrity accepting peanuts from them and supporting them should be tried and imprisoned,” he said.

“This comedy we are all watching and keeping quiet is the future of Nigeria at stake, burning right in our eyes, burning, burning and burning with no hope in sight.

“Any celebrity or sports star posting or supporting these devilish looters is a fool, total imbecile. It is time to use the platforms God gave all of us to fight for the future of the country, not posting rubbish on social media, it is time for us to wake up and face reality. Enough is enough.”

The CEO of Tabic Records also said the indifference among Nigerians to issues affecting the nation has birthed a system where politicians feel they can get away with anything.

“Can you imagine the drama we are all watching? This is the future of Nigeria that we are watching some people do comedy with as if Nigeria is a failed state?,” he queried.

“And yet Nigerian celebrities are posting pictures on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter as if everything is okay. Only very few, very few of them like Ali Baba and co are speaking up daily, the rest are busy posting pictures with these daylight criminals that should be facing firing squad, God forbid evil.”

Akuma also recommended execution by firing squad for government officials who loot public funds, noting prison sentences have proven ineffective.

“Firing squad will instill fear and discourage such flagrant abuse of Public trust like the NDDC and EFCC saga which the Country have been enmeshed with lately,” he said.