BY EDMOND ODOK – The former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Shem Obafaiye, had admitted that his ‘Oga At The Top’ comment during a TV interview in 2013, had a temporary psychological effect on him
Obafaiye, who shot into national reckoning following the controversially funny comment, was again on the same show on Tuesday morning, narrating his experience and life struggles after the said interview.
Now a retired Deputy Commandant General of the NSCDC, Obafaiye said on Channels TV’s interview segment of Sunrise Daily, the same show he made the comment almost 10 years ago, that thanks to his superiors and colleagues, who showed understanding, he was able to weather the storm of public ridicule and taunting in the social media space.
Recalling his experience on Tuesday morning, the retired officer humorously said he has nothing against all those who taunted him and had actually forgiven anyone involved in amplifying the episode.
He also debunked reports of his appointment being terminated by the NSCDC Management over the ’embarrassing’ interview, adding that he never granted any other interview since then, because there was no reason to do so given that he was serving in the operations department.
Going down memory lane, Obafaiye said the happenings during the interview session then were one of those things because he was not in the best position to provide such an information required by the interviewers.
He further hinted thus; “Immediately after the interview, I was changed (redeployed). My principal, the Commandant General asked me to rest, and I was at home for one month, resting, before they moved me to Oyo State Command where I was for one year before I was moved to another command. Redeployment is a normal thing in the job.”
Admitting being somewhat affected by that development, he said; “The experience was beautiful afterwards. ‘Oga At The Top’ became a national slogan, and it has not impacted my life negatively. In some quarters, they projected it negatively; some quite insulting. But all the same, one of my cousins asked me after the programme if I wanted national recognition, and I said yes. He said I should be ready for national insults and embarrassment.”
On whether the situation had any psychological effect on him, Obafaiye, who responded in the affirmative, said; “Definitely, it had to, because I had never gone through such in life, but for what my cousin told me that if I was ready for national recognition, I should be ready for national embarrassment, insults and the likes.”
He also disclosed that his wife had procured the patent for the slogan, noting jovially thus; “We have the certificate; my wife did it, so we have the patent. Anywhere I hear ‘Oga At the Top’ without permission, na money o”.
Expectedly, the comment drew hearty laughter from the ex-NSCDC officer and the programme’s anchors.
Forefront News recalls that in the 2013 interview, which focused on the disturbing trend on job racketeering within the Corps at the time, Obafaiye, in response to a question on the NSCDC’s website that could assist job applicants, said incoherently; “The website of the NSCDC, I cannot categorically tell you one now..”
Interrupted by one of the programme anchors, he further blurted out; “Wait, wait (pointing his left index finger at the anchor), because the one we are going to make use of, I’m not the one that is going to create it.
“Wait! The one we are going to make use of is going to be made known by my Oga At The Top (pointing his right index finger up in the air). I can’t announce one now and my Oga says it’s another one that we are going to use.”
On whether the NSCDC operates multiple websites, a clearly uncomfortable Obafaiye said, “We cannot have multiple websites. If you want to know about the NSCDC as at now, it’s www.nscdc” chuckling, he added; “Yes, that’s all!”
Interestingly, the ‘Oga At The Top’, interview, meaning the boss, became a national slogan, with many business people adopting the slogan for customised shirts and other items.
