By Osagie Alonge
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has once again criticised rapper Eedris Abdulkareem over his hit song ‘Jaga jaga,’ like he did in 2004.
While speaking at a forum organized by Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, the former president expressed his disapproval of the ‘modern day youth towards Nigeria.’
In that light, Obasanjo recalled Abdulkareem’s 2004 hit track ‘Jaga jaga’ and said that the KENNIS Music rapper doesn’t believe in the future of the country.
‘One of the worst problems Nigeria is facing is disbelief. Nigerians no longer believe in themselves neither do they believe in their country. That takes me back to that song ‘jaga jaga’, how could a sane man dare to call his country jagajaga? It is the height of blasphemy. We are grooming our youths for tomorrow’s leadership and with such persons I don’t think the country can move forward’ Obasanjo was quoted as saying.
‘Jaga jaga’ was released on Abdulkareem’s third solo album in 2004, and turned into a nationwide hit shortly after.
20 comments
I don’t know how the press work in Nigeria. I just don’t understand why a harmless statement made by Obasanjo will be twisted to cause problem or create an atmosphere of confusion. Obasanjo only expressed his dismay at the level of pessimism and lack of patrotism amongst Nigerians. Let us avoid sensationalism and engage more in investigative journalism pls. The media in Nigeria is lazy, part of why the country is in trouble cos u guys will never go deep to bring info that are relevant with facts and figures.
i beg make baba go die
is truth nd obasanjo cant do me anytin
MR.OBJ who are u grooming? Hw are u grooming d youths Huh? by instilling & ingraining corruption in d minds of our youths. U are talking abt grooming..hw positively did u contribute 2 d education sector of d country in ur 8 yrs.little wonder Edris sang d song.dat is a result of perceived stagnancy & unimprovement in d country. U want us 2 show our 32 teeth smiling while u destroy d country? No way!! U labelled Eedris d villain but are u d saint? As long as am concern,u failed Nigerians during ur tenure. I dn’t even think d song suits d situation nw coz Naija’s already blown 2 pieces!!
I support what our ex president said, why cant Nigerians be proud of our good country; God sent leaders, let us start to be contended with what we have, and also pray for our leaders and country.
@truthbe told,i see u live up to ur internet name by telling the truth all the time.In most cases,ur comments are always appreciated.God bless u for this particular comment of urs.I also never in my life saw sense in that silly phrase of that song!
See pot callin kettle black, that rtd soldier is part of nigeria’s headache, oh he thinks nigerians av 4gotten abt d haleborton scandal?, how his vet doctor daughter(Iyabo) mis-appropriated 5billionNGA, the NEPA 16billionNGA SCANDAL, the list is endless. This man deserves an OSCAR.
Does he know ao many lives has been lost along the lagos-ibadan xpressway?. #Believe, thats wat’s trendin heh?. B’liv in a country where pple barely feed on a dollar a day, nysc kp churnin out more pple in2 d oversaturated job market. If them giv una visa go US/CANADA abeg reject am b’cos u love and b’live in ur country.
We need to believe more in ourselves and exercise more faith in our country.
Pls na beg i dey beg d people of NIG let us no blame anybody,& 2 always sorpot d gud & not d bad inorda 2 promote PEACE.
Baba, pls leave dis guy alone na……….you too like to dey tenu mo oro too much, ki lo de? Haba?
truth they say hurts.Obasanjo nd his fellow political counterparts should sit up nd do the right thing or else there will be more nigeria jaga jaga songs in the future.
I tell u Nigeria ain’t deserve being proud of . Though, am v. patriotic and of which it s good & Godly being so and It is Godly as well talking d truth let alone how bitter it is. Nigeria is bad !if u hv been outta d country once u’ll understand wat I mean. There is no dividend of being a blessed country like Nigeria rather than being just a citizen. if u listen to news well ,tell me wen last u heard a good or benefiting news if not killing, insecurity, strike, price hike, fraud, unemployment , infidelity, government telling lies, failing promises, cheating, unaccountability and so on. Tell me wat right u hv as a nigerian. how hv u enjoyed the gains of crued oil we all hv together. Bad attitudes of d citizens count on bad conditions of d country instigated by d bad leaders. Nigeria is truly jagajaga true to God!!! Stop being sentimental , we all suffer it together in one way or d other.
@obasanjo,.u dnt need 2 talk abt d qui’s jaqajaqa…qo sleep jor
@ Tee whye,bro gud one. We go see down here suffering and smiling while we r tricked,killed,denied n ignored in our own country. They may see patriotism in thr own thoughts but i tell them dats its self illusion.. Dats wat i dn’t like abt Nigerian youths,we r too hopeful till we are dead!!
@ Viva Runour, i guess musicians shud cum 2 u 4 their lyrics..’na condition mk crayfish bend’ by d way,d guyz dat sang ‘chop ma money’ didn’t beg u 2 be thr moderator coz they are way bigger..
Why Obj not respond to Wasiu Ayinde. Oba you’re Jaga jaga not Nigeria
Na God go punish OBJ well well. Tweet @iamdsam
Dis man drink ogogoro sef? Watin dey worry am? Mk he go slp if he nor get watin 2 talk o
Let us all work together to promote the good image of Nigeria, bt that doen’t mean we shouldn’t sing about things that are going wrong in our country, only through music the politician can known how wrong they are leading the people
I think d guy sang the song out of senses,I hv neva like d song 4 once.