By now, you have heard or should have heard of 2Face’s call to fellow Nigerian citizens to join him for a nationwide massive protest against the current Nigerian government. I won’t get into the debate on whether he should or should not lead such a protest. Those arguments have been beaten to the ground by the public at large, and range from arguing that he lacks credibility by virtue of his background of promiscuity in fathering at least six children with numerous women to being “an illiterate.” Surely you don’t need an education to protest, neither do you need to be a saint otherwise many great leaders worldwide would never have qualified to change the trajectory of humanity for the better. Indeed, I believe every Nigerian citizen has a right to protest and should exercise such right if they are informed on the issues, and can credibly articulate the basis for such protests.
My issue is therefore not about 2Face’s personal background. My issue is I sense a certain lack of authenticity with the methods of communication he has used to call for a nationwide protest. If there is one thing we all know about the 2Face’s personal and professional brand, it is that it is deeply authentic. Take it or leave it, there are no pretenses, and everything about him spells “realness.” He makes you feel, in person or on stage, like you belong, like he is a family friend or brother. He doesn’t blow or speak “big English,” and in fact often opts for the Pidgin English language when he communicates, especially with the average Nigerian. He does this in music, interviews and the list goes on. When he does speak using the English language, on important social issues, he often avoids hiding his face behind very dark shades and reading to his fans or the public. He just gets real.
So, right off the bat, nothing about how 2Face has communicated this particular call for a protest feels authentic. Something seems lost in translation and the awkwardness, I believe, comes across.
In any event, even if we overlook my perception of a lack of authenticity through his chosen methods of communication, including in the written form, which I believe is part of the bigger problem and one of the key factors driving strong opposition against him, 2Face is yet to tell us what safety measures he has in place to protect members of the public.
So to 2Face and those who may be sponsoring this protest, what safety measures do you have in place to protect Nigerian citizens, especially since threats of violence are now promised ahead of the march?
Inquiring minds will like to know.
-Ms. Uduak