The Other face of 2baba
– Olamide Francis & Emeka Emmanuel G.
No one would pray against change but everyone would want a change that affects lives positively. What do we do if we continue adapting to a change process until we cannot see the final result of the change. You would ask me how? When the change finally comes and those who passed through the pain have been blown away by its wind, deformed by its pressing and transformed negatively by the process. As much as we must live sustainably for the future generations, so we must also be able to survive through times to tell them how we built the empire they’re enjoying. The future needs the present to function.
Nigerians are one of the most persevering beings on this planet, they are hyper adaptive to any circumstances, they know how to survive in surplus, scarcity, famine, hunger, war, pestilence, outbreak of diseases, but don’t forget there’s a limit to how far u can push,press,batter,pull and draw a human being until he finally retaliates. An hungry man breeds anger in a man they say.
Perhaps this we’re the pains, cries of agony that “Tuface” headed before he proposed to rock the nation with a Nation wide protest .
Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly known as “2baba” has publicly announced he would be spear heading a Nation wide protest against obnoxious policies implemented by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The protest tagged “enough is enough” which promises to be peaceful and in an articulate manner will take place on February 5,2017 across major cities Nationwide. This protest is Coming at a time when every average Nigerian would disagree with any school of thought that life has been difficult since this administration took office in 2015.
Tuface wrote on his twitter handle,
“a call for good governance. A call for urgent explanation into the reckless economic downturn nationwide. A call for nationwide protests as we say no to the Executive, no to legislatures, no to judiciary. You have all failed us.
“We the people are tired. We can no longer continue with all of you. All your excuses and mistakes are not funny. We do not wish to continue with a system and government that is not working but afflicting the people.
“We the people of this country not living under the privileges of government allowances and remuneration have now accepted to take the bull by the horn to come out and protest this obnoxious and baseless policies and excuses of the government of the day.
“There’s need for Nigerians to rise against what is happening in this country having waited patiently for the legislatures that were elected to represent the people all to no avail.”
This were some of the words of the Benue born Nigerian artiste, husband of Annie Idibia and one of Nigeria’s greatest ever composer. He opined that the Buhari led administration rudderless ness has left too many Nigerians languishing in poverty with little to be hopeful about in the future. His outcry was the failure of the Government and their inability to effect the promise change leading us Into economic downturn.
2face is not the first celebrity to be in a protest – Occupy Nigeria was filled with entertainers who sang at Ojota everyday. His ‘Nigeria First may also not achieve much but the effect the idea of it alone is priceless.
Most important, it is the height of self-recognition to realize one’s power and use it for the greater good. It will be hard for 2face to go hungry. His kids will be fine.
If it ever happens – and we all know that it’s almost never going to happen – that 2face becomes broke and unable to support his celebrity lifestyle in the future, at the very worst he’ll raise funds for a plane ticket to start a new life in America or Canada. The protest is a welcome development at this point when the country is in a quagmire lacking leadership at all levels.
At a time like this when the Nigerian masses are rudderless and have no Moses to lead them to the promised land, a voice like 2face’s is important to be heard.
While it is no responsibility of celebrities to be at the forefront of causes and movements, history and fate always judge those who do favourably.
Being a celebrity is more than popping bottles and working the red carpet. The fact that they are famous gives them a voice louder than the ordinary guy.
Of course this is not to say that being involved in every cause will make it successful, it is refreshing to see that net worth has not detached one the biggest celebrities we have in Nigeria from the reality of many fans who follow him religiously.
However ,many of his co celebrity AHS started choosing sides either for fear of failing fear of the government or fear of winning too. A large number of them were in support of this movement while some discard it as a waste of time.
Some celebrity has already announced they’ll boycott the protest
Bovi Ugboma the comedian has this to say on his Instagram handle,
@officialBovi stated, “Boycott” is too strong a word to describe my not attending. I won’t be there. Simple. It doesn’t define whether I support it or not.
“I am not joining the protest, and stop saying ‘we’ and ‘us.’ You don’t belong..my life is not governed by your opinions of me.
Similarly, popular Nigerian Yoruba actress, Funke Adesiyan who disagreed with 2face over the plan said that protest was not the only option.
The actress, who recently completed a course in film-making and directing at the New York Film Academy in the U.S, stressed the importance of youth participation in governance.
The Yoruba actress of Ibadan origin who contested and lost Oyo State House of assembly election under the umbrella of PDP in 2015, stated on her instagram handle @funkeadesiyan:
“When people ask me why I joined politics, I tell them from the truest of my heart that it is because I got tired of how things were being done in my country.
“It’s not enough for us to protest, it’s more important for us, youths of this beloved nation, to get involved in governance. You could try many times before you achieve it,” Adesiyan stated.
The unbelievable voice from the critics camp was that’s of his former plantashun boys member blackface. Blackface, who has been feuding with his former band mate, Tuface, clearly expressed his stand against the protest saying Tuface needs to be educated about the efforts of the Buhari administration.
Also in his post, he shared the recent post by Dr Bunmi Awoyemi who described Tuface protest against the Federal Government as an ‘illiterate act’.
In the Facebook post, the professor accused the singer of being promiscuous and that Tubaba should face the affairs of his home before taking it to the national level.
Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose said he will be partaking in the upcoming nationwide protest led by Innocent ‘Tuface’ Idibia.
In a post on his Twitter handle, Mr. Fayose said the organisers have his full backing to launch the protest which they said will be “massive”.
“To organisers of Feb. 5 “Enough is Enough” National Protest, you have my total support and I will be part of the protest,” the governor said.
Mr. Fayose is the latest public figure to queue behind the organisers of the demonstration, which is expected to hold simultaneously in different cities across the country. Davido has also registers his interest in the movement. Funke Akindele, the Nigerian actress wants celebrity to get involved and not just watch happens from a distant.
The police said they have been duly informed about the protest and will provide security for all participants, although the government called for patience and understanding.
Amidst all this, there remains a question in my mind, is Tuface on the verge of craving his name on the rock in d history of our nation or he’s about to partially put an end to his long term career in the industry and dent the influence he has over many. Can he be using this medium to make fame and name? Does he have a hidden agenda? Could he be interested in politics in the future? Is this a master class strategy of a greater plan ahead? If the protest fails ,what will be his speech? Can anyone really win the government?
This are few if the questions you must answer before you are cajoled to join or reject the protest.
Follow as we watch our very own 2baba finally make ur mar his career.
Written by : Olamide Francis & Gbandi Emeka Emmanuel
Emeka Emmanuel G. is the Chief International Editor, African Heritage Magazine
