Victor Ezeja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) top official, Shem Obafiaye, who became internet sensation in 2013 after referencing “My Oga At The Top” during a live television interview has recounted how sundry reactions that trailed his remark took a psychological toll on him and his family.
Obafiaye, then Lagos Commandant of the NSCDC, was at the centre of online and offline buzz after he couldn’t tell his parastatal’s website when he appeared on the Sunrise Daily programme which was looking into job racketeering at civil defence at the time.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelWhen asked to state the NSCDC’s website, Obafaiye replied, “The website is… excuse me… wait… it can only be made known by my Oga at the top,” pointing skywards and smiling broadly.
Ten years later, Obafiaye returned as guest on Channels Television where he opened up on the remark which instantly generated humorous memes, danceable tunes, and ‘Oga At The Top’ emblazoned on T-shirts.
When asked how the interview that resulted in his deployment affected him, he said: “Definitely, it has to because I had never gone through such in my life, but with the words of my cousin, ‘I know you have a future; if you are ready for national recognition, be ready for national embarrassment, harassment, and insults’.”
Obiafiaye disclosed that “Immediately after the interview—and I was changed—my principal, who is my commandant general, just asked me to rest. I was at home for one month rest before they moved me to Oyo State Command,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of the breakfast show.
Addressing the impact on his family, Obafiaye said his son often came home, mentioning being called ‘Oga at the Top’ by classmates.
Despite this, the NSCDC officer, who was last week promoted to the rank of Deputy Commandant-General, insisted that it was part of the experience, not a crime, and that he had not faced any negative consequences.
Reflecting on the reactions of colleagues and superiors, Obafiaye stated that they did not respond negatively.
He laughed off a replay of the video during the interview, stating that he has forgiven those who made caricatures. This was as he acknowledged the influence of social media in the “new age”.
