Superstar musician, Wizkid, descended heavily on Muhammadu Buhari after the Nigerian president wished Donald Trump and his wife a full recovery on Twitter after the couple confirmed they had tested positive for COVID-19.
Responding to Buhari’s post on Sunday, the Ojuelegba singer told Buhari to focus on fixing the West African nation and the alleged atrocities being meted out to the youth by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the country’s police force that has been criticized over the years for their rogue tactics. They have been several rallying calls on social media for authorities to disband the group, with people sharing videos of some its officers extorting and shooting civilians.
“Donald trump is not your business! Old man!,” the 30-year-old singer, born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, tweeted. “Police/Sarz still killing. Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something! Nothing concern u for America! Face your country !!”
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Donald trump is not your business!
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) October 4, 2020
Old man! Police/Sarz still killing
Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something!
Nothing concern u for America!
Face your country !! https://t.co/thxmoYb7VE
The post, which went viral and has been retweeted over 60,000 times, was received with mixed reactions. While others lauded him for showing concern, others called him out for being disrespectful.
“Wizzy Thanks for this tweet, you could choose not to tweet, But you did, this means a lot to the ordinary Nigerian, who lives in fears of those meant to protect him…#EndSarsNow,” a user said.
“Who is feeding this toddler? Face your music boyy. I’m not pro Buhari but what do you know about governance??” said another user.
Another user also tweeted: “What do you expect him to do he’s the president and he has done nothing bad in wishing the US president and his wife quick recovery. That is the normal thing for him to do so don’t attack him for this one.”
“Thank you, WizKid for lending your voice against the injustice faced by Nigerians everyday,” Sars Watch, a page claiming to create “awareness on sars and the nigerian police force’s illegal activities, oppression and extortions” also replied.
Take a look at some more reactions below:
Finally you are using your influence to help the youths
— Unilag’s Finest ✨ (@bluegirlolu) October 4, 2020
We really need you guys to help us physically too not just online
But thanks at Least you are already speaking out, thanks king ?
@wizkidayo That’s a total disrespect! Even if u can’t respect @MBuhari as an elder, you should respect him as the president of the federal republic of Nigeria! U can actually voice out your opinion(s) without disrespecting d president! If den arrest u now, u go shout ye ye ye ye
— Adefemi Razaq (@zaqzignature) October 4, 2020
And people wonder why we love Wizkid, chai. ?? What A Tweet #EndSARS https://t.co/bFxJ9oPlBq
— Vien007 (@Vien007) October 4, 2020
Why don’t you face your music small man?I understand why that is difficult, because it doesn’t have any substance #ChildrenOfNowAdays ?? https://t.co/pJzTor6r1Z
— GHETTO CHILD (@Blackfacenaija) October 4, 2020
Wizkid is the real Fela ? https://t.co/y1qihjGGGr
— MONITORING_SPIRIT (@Sonjoe_Kutuh) October 4, 2020
Meanwhile, the country’s Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has officially banned the controversial unit from mounting road blocks and also undertaking stop and search duties, BBC reports. Adamu has also ordered all SARS officers to always wear uniforms.
The #EndSARS campaign trended over the weekend after reports of officers within the unit allegedly killing a young man in Lagos went viral. A June report by Amnesty International revealed the unit frequently targets “young men with dreadlocks, ripped jeans, tattoos, flashy cars or expensive gadgets.”
According to a statement from Adamu, the unit as well as other tactical police units in the force have been prohibited from “invasion of privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorised search of mobiles, laptops and smart devices,” BBC reports.
