Nigeria: How 'Oga At the Top' Affected My Family - Retired NSCDC Official

26 December 2023

A retired Deputy Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Shem Obafaiye, has narrated how the interview that birthed the 'Oga at the top' slogan affected his life.

Obafaiye went viral after the interview on Channels' flagship programme 10 years ago.

He however returned as a guest on Sunrise Daily monitored by our correspondent.

Speaking during the programme, Obafaiye who is now out of service said his promotion came after retirement.

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister of Interior and the NSCDC Commandant-General.

"Despite the backlash, the interview did not really affect me negatively during my service years. It however affected me psychologically because I had never gone through such a thing in my life before. At times my son would come home that they called him 'Oga at the Top' at school.

"My office did not really react negatively to it but said why should I who is pursuing pipeline vandals, come and be talking about websites

"I also learnt that some group of people came to my boss then in Lagos that they felt embarrassed by the incident and he told them I am one of his best commanders.

"I was replaced immediately after the interview from Lagos to Oyo but my boss said I should go home and rest for one month before I proceeded," he revealed.

Mr Obafaiye said he has forgiven those who produced t-shirts and insignia of the slogan then and can now make money from its usage.

"I now have 'My Oga at the Top' patented by my wife and anybody that wants to use it henceforth without my permission, that means money for me," he added.

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