By Adesakin Adefemi
Rapper and activist Michael Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has urged Nigerians to direct criticism over the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State at government authorities and security agencies rather than at celebrities. He said the responsibility for protecting lives rests solely with those in power.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, Ruggedman argued that it is absurd to expect public figures to respond with the same urgency as state institutions. “Celebrities are not government officials. Neither are they the police or soldiers,” he said.
“The urgent response is needed from the people whose response will affect the lives of the people abducted in Oyo,” he added. “Not celebrities. We need to focus on the people responsible for the lives of our Oyo people, and they are not celebrities.”
Ruggedman expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the incident as heartbreaking. He also voiced concern over the delayed government response, saying the lapse makes the situation worse for those affected.
The artiste noted that speaking out on governance has become increasingly risky. “Addressing government failure is now looking risky because we have been seeing more and more people on social media who call out failures getting attacked. Some even get arrested,” he said.
Despite the risks, Ruggedman said he does not feel pressured to stay silent. “I always speak up on issues concerning humans, not just Nigerians,” he stated, emphasising that accountability should not be selective.
He warned that leaders who can not tolerate criticism risk being seen as authoritarian. “A person that can’t handle criticism should not be anywhere near a seat of power. You will end up looking like a dictator and hated by your people,” he cautioned.
On calls for religious leaders to intervene more directly in national security, Ruggedman said their influence is limited. “Religious leaders can speak and demand, but the actions needed to protect citizens should come from government,” he explained.
“They cannot go into the forests to rescue abducted citizens. We have people trained for such, and celebrities and religious leaders do not command them,” he concluded, reiterating that security remains the government’s constitutional duty.
