By Kehinde Okeowo
Songwriter and Disc Jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly called DJ Switch, has described Nigeria’s military as Zombies and accused Nigerian leaders of recycling themselves rather than build the youths to take over from them.
She made the disclosure far away in Norway, at an event tagged the Oslo Freedom Forum, where she was invited to give a speech.
The talented DJ while speaking at the event, said the Nigerian government is afraid of the youths because it has refused to create an enabling environment where they can thrive and therefore, scared they will fight back.
She particularly berated the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and accused him of deliberately lying to cover the atrocities of the military during the EndSARS protest.
“As an artiste and a DJ, I listen to music a lot all the time and I am reminded of the legend — the artiste, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He was known for speaking truth to power with his music and I am reminded of his 1977 song titled, Zombie. Here, Fela likens the Nigerian military to mindless zombies following idiotic orders. It was relevant then, it is relevant today and it is most likely relevant tomorrow, in the future.
“The same future that they say is in the hands of the leaders of tomorrow, but what we have tomorrow are recycled leaders of today who have failed to provide an enabling environment for young leaders to thrive and contribute. But they chose, instead to kill us all off one by one.
“This might sound outrageous to you and you might wonder why; I will tell you. Our leaders are afraid; it is as simple as that. They are afraid of a thinking, innovative and collaborative working Nigeria. They are afraid of every young Nigerian who, against all odds, have made it for themselves.
“They are afraid of a ‘me’; the coconut head generation as we like to call ourselves. We are hard-headed, we are not easily deceived by propaganda. We stand up to our oppressors, starting with the Nigerian Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
“Yes, you heard me right. The Nigerian Minister for Information, our very own spin doctor, his first name is ‘Lie’. It is inevitable, right? The pun is begging me. ‘Lie’ called the shooting a fabrication of a massacre without bodies. He said I was a purveyor of fake news with an intent of tarnishing the nation’s image and I am a terrorist among other things.
“The Nigerian Army called the shooting fake and I had made the whole thing up with a green screen. Yes, I have plans of going to Hollywood after this speech.” DJ Switch said.
Recall the 29-year-old left the country recently, after self isolating following the EndSARS protest. She also debunked the rumour that she left the country and relocated to Canada after she was granted asylum.