EFCC, Naira Marley and cultural icons

With the way EFCC emerged under Ibrahim Magu, it is certain Naira Marley, is an appetizer. A real somebody, in the entertainment industry, is about to land in the Kanuri-toughie’s net. Magu is a dangerous crime-buster. He tests waters in slippery arena with a fry, tries to pacify the sharks, then makes a devastatingly jerk for an obokun (a heavyweight), and permanently tucks all dissensions in paralyzing fear. If in doubt, ask the judiciary. He started with a couple of SANs before going for the headship of the Bar and the Bench. He arguably succeeded on both fronts, if his style suits you.

I’m confidently predicting one of Davido, Olamide and Wizkid, very soon, in Magu’s belly. The obvious pick, for his political dabbles, should be Davido. But Magu has a way of surprising. While Tiwa Savage may be out of consideration for the sake of hormonal riots among women worldwide, a mis-sing, could get Olamide cooling his feet in Ikoyi. Only that the young man isn’t just anyone, olorin oba ni (He’s got rich and powerful clientele). Did you say Asiwaju?

INEC keeps Nigerians waiting over Zamfara •Supreme Court voids APC votes

Magu and his men navigated the brouhaha and public emotions over Marley’s arrest because he was just an Okokomaiko brand. But not anymore. Magu has helped move Marley’s ministry to the Next Level. The real currency that had been missing in his Naira moniker that possibly got him into fraud is now going to come in torrent even while in his travails. His existing singles, that Idumota marketers were looking for dumps for, will certainly gain traction. Wait until he is out of the gulag and EFCC would realise what it has done to the career of the wannabe of yesterday. Check his social media handles to see that his handlers could just fold their arms in the studio and promoters would be falling over to have him the star attraction, headlining major shows for the rest of the year. Magu could end up being the mugu here by inadvertently helping Marley to hammer, as they say.

You say what if he’s eventually jailed? Oh, better for him and his career, if his own could keep the tempo gyrating for him. With a good spin-doctor in the entertainment industry, who would keep talking about Marley dropping a banger he composed in jail, once he’s done serving his term, endorsements would line up. Who cares around here? In fact, the more-battered an entertainment brand is, the better for the hype products makers want for their products. And if by any chance, the jail-bird shares money on Instagram, the noise would be, he dey help pipu.

It is likely moralists, genuine Christians and conscionable Muslim are cringing. Those who fancy themselves as Keepers of Order in the society, like MURIC, may even head to court to make any Quran-believing media-buyer give Marley and his kind a wide possible berth. An injunction could even be sought to keep him away from young people in public places after his ordeal. The desire of those who would want to keep the bar of morals steady would be for him to remain an outcast forever, considering that Nigerian prisons don’t obviously reform. Petty thieves return from there as notorious Baba Onilesi.

But there was a Notorious BIG in US who combined a life of crime, perfectly with entrainment stardom. His latter-day re-mould are jumping in and out of rehab, I mean, those who had not ended tragically like Wacko, Prince, et al. But even in death, their estates are raking in millions of dollars. They are deemed heroes, representing a culture; of expressive freedom.

There is a popular joke about Hausa and medicine. Before they patronise you as a medicine seller, they ask, se o se e ri (have you experienced similar symptoms before). If American pop culture is spreading like wildfire around here, with its felonious companionship with criminality (maybe without Yahoo), it is because the “dividends” are there for all to see. The more notorious and scandal-prone an artist is, the bigger his/her market value, even when the corporate world over there pretends towards decency. In America and elsewhere, they are celebrated as cultural icons. Media eats out of their “soiled” palms. It is the same here. Editors rarely remember a “clean” entertainer for interview. It is always about those stewing in scandals, simply because of the society consuming our products. Your paper is deemed boring going after Shola Allyson Obaniyi, the Ikorodu-born, beautiful voice who serenaded “Eji Owuro” (morning dew).

If you doubt the devastating impacts of these Marley characters, check most of the dance steps in worship houses today and you see wholesale importation from the street. The other day, Rochas Okorocha, was shown on national TV, doing the one-eye-covering move and the other one as if you want to head-butt the next fellow to you. The commonest prayer for Christian children today, is that God would carry them through this time and season.

Is this a discourager for crime to flourish? Absolutely no. It is a call to Magu and his men, not to see Marley and whoever they are targeting next as just any other suspects. They are gods and goddesses of our society. The other time, when Davido should be in soup, trying to smuggle a child out of the country, he was busy abusing a Dele Momodu, who himself, has a way of attracting fleas to rapturous public glee. Soon, he was guest of Magu’s senior, with his new catch, Chioma. It is called star-power. Magu should be careful, not enlisting too many wannabes for undeserving glittering epaulette this society that drives with rear mirror, is always quick to bequeath on guile.