- He expressed that aside from communicating necessary information about his duty-related operations, he generally refrains from engaging with the media
Mr. Shem Obafaiye, a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer renowned for the viral ‘Oga At The Top’ phrase, disclosed that he ceased giving direct interviews following the widespread attention from his Channel TV interview ten years ago.
During a live programme on Channels TV on Tuesday, Obafaiye mentioned that the incident prompted him to avoid direct interviews altogether.
He expressed that aside from communicating necessary information about his duty-related operations, he generally refrains from engaging with the media.
He said, “No direct interview except I made arrest and I paraded or give information about the arrest. I didn’t have any problem with the press. What happened came the way it came and so that one didn’t really stop my work as I continued with my work.”
Obafaiye revealed that the incident did not adversely impact his life and career growth despite the mixed reactions that trailed it.
He continued: “You know the name became a grace slogan globally, ‘Oga At The Top’. But all the same, it has not impacted my life negatively; no doubt about it. Though from some quarters, they projected it negatively, insultive. But all the same, one of my cousins after the programme said, ‘Brother!’ I said, ‘Yes!’ ‘Do you like national recognition?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ He said, ‘Be ready for national insult, national embarrassment whatsoever.’
“The rank doesn’t just come like that. That is part of hard-working, commitment to duty and I believe that is what happened and the President magnanimously approved it and my minister of interior as well and I’m now the ‘Oga At The Top, my Commander General.”