THE ROLE OF CITIZENSHIP: 2BABA AND THE FEBRUARY 6TH PROTEST

“Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about the things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jnr

I took out a large chunk of my sleeping time last night to read through some of the opinions and arguments for and against the planned protest partly organized by celebrated Nigerian entertainer, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as Tuface (now called 2Baba).

The most intriguing line of argument to me is the one presented by a professor, who used so many caustic words for a short Facebook post to repudiate the planned protest by the “African Queen” crooner. It is mind boggling how some people think that their title bestows on them the authority to determine who does what in the society, other than the laws of the land.

Mind you professor, that creativity is as important as literacy. Knowledge is no value until you put it into practice. You know all the elected and public functionaries embezzling funds, and with all your magna cum laude honours and certificates you did nothing, but you are quick to discredit 2Baba who is simply exercising his constitutional responsibility. My dear, borrow yourself brain!

Dear young Nigerians, throwing cheap shots, statements like “let’s educate…”, “he couldn’t have written the open letter…” are absolutely unnecessary and any who allowed themselves to be tempted into using those points against the protest should be deeply ashamed, because the hallmark of literacy – the reason why parents invest so heavily in this education business is not only so that their kids can be rich, but also that they may become active and positively meaningful members of the society. Is that not what the singer is trying to be? Is that not what he has urged the Nigerian people to do? Agreeing to listen to and enjoy the music of a “promiscuous illiterate” but turning around to use the same thing against him when he chooses to speak to the sorry state of things is not the most educated nor woke stance to take in 2017.

For the records, 2Baba endeared himself to many through his creative contributions to national issues; he has been an activist and a great influence in Nigeria’s socio-political scene. From his first solo album – Face2Face – released on May 15, 2004 2Baba has always dedicated a track or skit to lend his voice to national consciousness, social situations and to criticize government’s poor people policies.

He had the ‘Police Skit’ in his Face2Face album, ‘E be like say’ and ‘For Instance’ in Grass To Grace album, ‘Power of Naija’ in the Unstoppable International edition, ‘steady steady’ and ‘freedom is life’ in Away & Beyond album, and ‘Not a Surprise’ in his latest album released in July 21, 2014 – The Ascension.

He has also released singles for notable projects, like the “Vote Not Fight’ – a project theme song for his foundation’s 2015 election peace campaign, and “Break the Silence” which he sang to shore up support for the global #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) campaign.

Through his 2Face Foundation, he has initiated several campaigns across the nation, such as the “Vote Not Fight – Election No Be War” campaign, geared towards a violence free electoral process in 2015. A campaign, which he later revealed, cost him over one hundred million naira (N100m). In October 2016, he organized “A Million Voices For Peace” – a campaign against religious intolerance in northern Nigeria. This came weeks after his conferment as Peace Ambassador for the Ooni of Ife’s peace project.

2Baba’s numerous humanitarian projects did not go unnoticed. In May 2016, he was awarded an honorary masters degree in Arts by Igbinedion University, Okada City, Benin, Nigeria.

In November 2015, He was turbaned as the “Tafidan Kudendan” of Kudendan in Kaduna state.

Tuface was turbaned at the palace of the traditional ruler of the Kudenda community, Gabriel Galadima, in Chikum local government area.

According to the traditional ruler, Tuface was honored with the title because of his pet project – ‘Voice No Violence’ which has helped communities in the area preaching peace among themselves.

“We were in dire need of real presence of peace advocates and programmes and 2Face came to the rescue and that is why we honoured him.

“He has been outstanding in not only singing peace, but participating in actualizing it,” said Mr. Galadima.

The roles of citizens are to obey law, pay legal taxes and hold government accountable. This protest is not about 2Baba. It is about Nigerians exercising their key duty as accountability partners with government. The way this works is that you call your elected servants to order once they start to underperform. That’s democracy – in fact, that is life as a responsible adult citizen.

Not just because 2Baba’s citizenship roles or forthrightness makes this cause worthwhile, the purpose for which the protest is convened is apt, and that makes it tick.

According to 2Baba’s post on Instagram, the protest is “A call for good governance! A call for explanation into the reckless economic downturn nationwide… A call for nationwide protests as we say No to the Executive, No to legislature, No to judiciary; you have all failed us. We have to come out and protest the obnoxious, baseless policies and excuses of the government of the day.”

Furthermore, he sought answers to several questions like:

“Where are the recovered looted funds? Why do we keep seeing peace talks in Niger Delta, Fulani herdsmen and IPOB without any solutions being reached, while the strategies keeps aggravating, the people involved as political leaders stage forums to extort funds in the name of addressing their subjects? Why did we have petrol price rise to 145 for the sake of global oil price crash and removal of subsidy but such price is still being maintained despite significant re-awakening of the oil price from $30/barrel to $56/barrel?”

2Baba concluded the lengthy post with “There’s need for Nigerians to rise against what is happening in this country having waited patiently for the legislators that were elected to represent the people all to no avail.”

Societal movement and development requires certain actions and inaction. Our leadership in political, traditional and religious circles has failed to defend the weak in our midst. They are all in one accord benefitting from our collective resources – they enjoy over estimated allowances, bogus pension as past legislators, governors, presidents at the expense of millions of jobless youths.

It is a pitiful situation that we pray every day but a few minority of elites have kept us in perpetual stagnancy and bondage through religious, ethnic and political sentiments.

Like 2Baba, I am miffed by the current administration’s rudderlessness, which has left too many Nigerians languishing in poverty with little to be hopeful for about the future. I totally support the February 6, 2017 “Enough is Enough National Protest.”

According to Desmond Tutu, “Power enslaves those who hold it as well as those who are held by it. Yet, only the oppressed can free the oppressor! If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

These are difficult times. Be careful who you are allowing to decide your narrative. Stop delegating your thinking to others. Take time to think – it is the source of power!

This article is written by Iheanyi Igboko, a social advocate and educator, working actively in the education and youth development sector.