Nigeria’s music icon, Eedris Abdulkareem recently released a track titled Jaga Jaga Reloaded. In the song, he called out the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), for ‘joining the cabal’. The song pissed off the minister who fired back at the singer with screenshots of the conversation they had some years ago.
Keyamo throws darts at Eedris Abdulkareem
On April 24, Keyamo called out Abdulkareem on Twitter, exposing the (former) intentions of the singer. In his tweet, the labour minister talked about how Abdulkareem wanted to support Buhari with his “body and soul”. However, he could not meet the singer’s demands. Consequently, the minister’s response displeased the musician who resorted to calling him out in his song.
Keyamo said, ‘’In 2018, when I was named the Director of Strategic Communications for Buhari Campaign Organisation, Eedris waxed a song in support of Buhari and wanted to join us, albeit for a fee. He then made desperate efforts to see me through text messages from his phone. When I finally met with him, I listened to the songs. But I told him I had no budget for such or any for that matter.
I explained that my job was voluntary. It was the same thing I told so many other so-called activists-by-day-and-hustlers-at-night who secretly approached me.’’
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According to the minister, Abdulkareem made some other financial requests which he did not fulfill. From saying that he needed a bailout for hotel bills that amounted to 1.3 million naira, to attending to his sick mother.
Birds of a feather
There have been varying opinions about the outburst between the two public figures. In his response, Abdulkareem fired back at the minister whom he taught was his friend. Also, some persons described the actions of the minister as childish and hypocritical.
One of the reasons was for sharing private chats to the public. Another group criticized him for accusing his ‘friend’ of the same thing he did before he got into political office.
Hence, this is a case of a kettle calling pot black. He had the means to fly in government and his ‘friend’ also wanted the same opportunity with his (Keyamo) platform. For the minister to have denied Abdulkareem same, some persons described the act as hypocritic.
However, the singer has also come under criticism for composing a song in honor of Buhari whose administration many have faulted. The “Jaga Jaga” crooner is known to speak against oppression of the masses. For begging for an avenue to eat from the national cake, he has been judged as one whose actions have a hidden agenda – activist-by-day-and-hustler-by-night. Likewise, he has been tagged a hypocrite for resorting to attacking Keyamo because he could not get what he wanted from him.
The quest to maintain a good name seems to be a high calling. Many people are having doubts as to who is genuinely interested in the growth of the nation. While some persons speak words that seem to be in support of the masses, it may eventually be for selfish reasons.
Are there still genuine activists who mean well for this country? Time will tell.
