On 4th October 2020, Nigeria’s multi-talented artiste, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid), took a swipe at President Buhari in reaction to the President’s get-well-soon message to President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, who recently tested positive to Covid-19 and are currently undergoing treatment.

President Buhari had expressed his good wishes via his official Twitter handle thus, “I wish US President, Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, quick and full recovery from Covid-19.”

Reacting to the tweet, Wizkid had this to say through his official Twitter handle:

Donald trump is not your business!
Old man! Police/Sarz still killing
Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something!
Nothing concern u for America!
Face your country!!

Donald Trump is Buhari’s Business

In his capacity as the President of Nigeria, it is purely the business of President Buhari to extend good wishes to the President of any country of the world, especially countries with which Nigeria enjoys diplomatic ties.

President Trump is the President of arguably the most powerful country of the world, the United States of America.

President Buhari is a Nigerian citizen who also enjoys the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. Whether in his official or personal capacity, the President has a right to extend his good wishes to whoever he pleases.

Old Man

President Buhari is an old man. It is a blessing to grow old. Sometimes it is incomprehensible why young people like Wizkid call the elderly old in a bid to be offensive. Perhaps they believe that it is more blessed to be young than to be old, because of the euphoria of youthful exuberance, the immense energy of the young, or the attractions associated with it. In truth, there are many exciting activities of good living which the elderly look at with nostalgic feelings and sometimes desire to be younger again. However, this does not take anything away from the sweetness of growing old to live to see one’s future generation. Wizkid should pray to grow old.

Killings by the Police/SARS

One of the underlying reasons for Wizkid’s swipe on the President appears to be a form of protest against the rascality of the Federal Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS or SARS). Undoubtedly, the brutality of many officers of the SARS against Nigerian youths has been an unfortunate development. The harassment and intimidation is unheard of and even the violent disposition of some members of the Squad, leading to avoidable deaths is unprecedented. The Federal Government through the office of the Inspector General of Police have tried several times to rise up to the occasion but no concrete results have been recorded. In solidarity, Wizkid has now turned to the President to register his displeasure and urging the President to do something.

Another reason for the outburst is seen as Wizkid further urges the President to face his country, implying that President Buhari has perhaps neglected his duties and therefore needs to focus, instead of bothering about America and its ailing President. Admittedly, the body language of President Buhari towards some critical events in the country depicts some level of non-chalance.

In conclusion, Wizkid is within his rights to criticize President Buhari for the misconduct of FSARS and the Police and to call for more focus. But there is no justification for attacking the President for extending some wishes to President Trump, regardless of what his reasons might be. It is often attractive to berate our leaders for poor governance. The argument regarding whether it is justified will remain with us. It depends on which side of the divide one chooses to belong. In the instant case, castigating President Buhari for wishing the American President well is clearly misguided, even if deployed as a tool for protest.