Why Nigerians will continue to languish in abject poverty – Nollywood actress

Nollywood actress, Georgina Onuoha, has suggested the need for her colleagues and all Nigerians to speak up on issues at all time and not waiting till they got favours, deals or gigs from politicians.

The actress said this after renowned movie producer, Dickson Iroegbu yesterday, in an open letter, pleaded with former president, Goodluck Jonathan for forgiveness, for his involvement in condemning his government.

Onuoha lauded Iroegbu, noting that it takes a noble man with guts to accept his mistakes and publicly acknowledge them.

She added that until we (Nigerians) begin to hold our elected officials accountable; we will continue to languish in abject poverty while our elected representatives that are supposed to serve us lavish our inheritance.

“I have tremendous respect for you Mr Dickson,” the actress noted.

It would be recalled that Iroegbu on his Facebook page on Thursday, said he regretted fighting against the former president.

He narrated how he and some of his colleagues ‘ganged up’ against Jonathan.

He wrote: “Dear Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, I write to apologize on behalf of myself and the many repentant Nigerians like me who ganged up against your government in 2012.”

The movie director categorically stated that he was a fool to have fought against, condemned Jonathan.

Supporting his guts and show of remorse, the mother of two on her Instagram account @georginaonuoha, backed Iroegbu. She shared a photo which compared the past government, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the present, All Progressives Congress, APC.

She wrote, “My colleague’s confession @Dickson!

“When I say learn to speak truth to power. Don’t be in bed with politicians (that is as a public figure, an icon people look up to, you have to learn to stay away from any political entity that impairs your judgement or the ability to speak truth to power. You cannot serve God and man at the same time.

“It takes a noble man with guts to accept his mistakes and publicly acknowledge them. I have tremendous respect for you Mr Dickson. We actors should be a pillar of hope for our people. Fight corruption wherever it exist. We can only do that by staying away from people who buy our voices for few crumbs of bread while our generation yet unborn suffer the consequences of our actions.

“My take: I applaud my colleague for his open confession. I believe change is hard, change is difficult, it takes time, and sacrifices have to be made. But what I abhor is suppression, intimidation and witch hunt of those who disagree with you or how you are running the affairs of a nation.

“Every Nigerian past and present government has been marked with corruption because we the people are too gullible and blind to read in between the fine lines. We are blinded by religion, tribe, region and language. We don’t see the better angels in us. Until we begin to hold our elected officials accountable; we will continue to languish in abject poverty while our elected representatives that are supposed to serve us lavish our inheritance.

“If we have to fight corruption according to our former president (olusegun obasanjo) on his Inauguration Day speech in May 1999 which states “There will be no sacred cows” then we must probe every ex-presidents, governors, Senators and honorables, local government chairmen who have caused untold hardship on mere Nigerians.

“We can do better as a nation to begin to look beyond being Hausa, Igbo or Youruba. We must elect the best man for the job regardless of what faith they profess. And to my honorable colleagues, we have the greatest platform on earth the power of media and television.

“Let us begin to use it to alleviate the lives of our people. We should begin to learn how to speak truth to power. You can only do that when you avoid parading yourselves for politicians who make empty promises to our people. We should be the voice for the voiceless.

“Not the numbers of Range Rovers, First class tickets, etc we all parade on social media, meanwhile our brothers and sisters are suffering, our uncles and aunties are dying. Schools are on strike, doctors on strike, high inflation, no electricity. We might enjoy the leisures of today but our next generation will suffer our indiscretions.

“Fight a good fight Speak for the people Speak truth to power. Don’t sell your pride, dignity and voice for stipends. God bless Nigeria God bless Nollywood,” the actress added.