Oga At The Top: I was told to rest for one month after viral remark — Shem Obafiaye reveals

Shem Obafiaye, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer who went viral for his famous ‘Oga At The Top’ remark says the development affected him psychologically.

Recall that Obafiaye, then the Lagos Commandant of the NSCDC, gained widespread attention during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily in 2013.

When asked to provide the NSCDC’s website, Obafaiye replied, “The website is… excuse me… wait… it can only be made known by my Oga at the top,” pointing skywards and smiling broadly.

About ten years after the development, Obafiaye opened up about the remark which led to humorous memes, danceable tunes, and ‘Oga At The Top’ emblazoned on T-shirts.

When asked if the interview that resulted in his deployment affected him psychologically, he said: “Definitely, it has to because I had never gone through such in my life, but with the words of my cousin, ‘I know you have a future; if you are ready for national recognition, be ready for national embarrassment, harassment, and insults’.”

Obiafiaye noted that “Immediately after the interview—and I was changed—my principal, who is my commandant general, just asked me to rest. I was at home for one month rest before they moved me to Oyo State Command,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of the breakfast show.