Brand Matters
Of Nigeria’s yeyebrities and false status -By Abdullahi O. Haruna
Our celebrities move around with police escorts and private bodyguards, they intimidate helpless citizens and oppose government because they appear on TV and own social media handles. This can only happen in Nigeria because we have a weak and tolerating system where anyone can undermine the law and nothing happens.
In Nigeria, once you appeared on screen and reigned as a music sensation, you automatically assumed a superhero and superhuman status. You go above the law and become an overnight activist. You begin to fight government even for the things you are guilty of. You can beat the traffic light, drive against the traffic and even shield lawbreakers from the law.
Whoever gave them that entitlement still baffles me. Our celebrities move around with police escorts and private bodyguards, they intimidate helpless citizens and oppose government because they appear on TV and own social media handles. This can only happen in Nigeria because we have a weak and tolerating system where anyone can undermine the law and nothing happens.
I remember Dorathy, one of the inmates of BBN berating the EFCC for invading her neighbourhood in search of internet fraudsters, according to her, it’s a sacrilege for the anti-corruption body to come anywhere near her! Such is the audacity of our celebrities. Yesterday, it was Mercy Johnson’s turn, she ALLEGEDLY went to her daughter’s school to confront the headteacher who simply asked her daughter to apologise to a fellow pupil whose arm she twisted.
These are just a handful, there are many other ugly stories of celebrities intimidating citizens everywhere in Nigeria. This archaic mentality must stop, this barbarism must cease, you are nobody but citizens just like the banker, tailor, police, teacher, trader and politician serving the state. Stop assuming yourself a bird, you are a damn butterfly with a feeble wing.
Frankly musing
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