Shem Obafiaye, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer famous for the ‘Oga At The Top’ viral remark, recently shared the psychological impact of the incident.
In 2013, as Lagos Commandant of the NSCDC, Obafiaye gained widespread attention during a Channels Television interview, humorously referencing his superior when asked about the NSCDC website.
A decade later, he opened up about the aftermath, acknowledging the humorous memes, catchy tunes, and ‘Oga At The Top’ T-shirts that emerged from the incident.
Regarding the psychological effect, Obafiaye admitted, “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’.”
He recounted advice from his cousin, acknowledging the duality of national recognition bringing both acclaim and ridicule.
He shared how the incident led to a month-long rest at home and a transfer to the Oyo State Command by his superiors, acknowledging its impact on his family, especially his son facing taunts at school.
Despite this, he viewed it as part of his experience, noting the absence of negative consequences and the positive response from colleagues and superiors.
Reflecting on the experience, he expressed forgiveness to those who made caricatures, acknowledging social media’s role in the modern age.
Recently promoted to Deputy Commandant-General after ten years, Obafiaye announced his retirement from service during the interview.
