Veteran musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has reaffirmed his statement that criminals have hijacked Nigeria, insisting he has not withdrawn his earlier remarks.
The singer made the clarification during the latest episode of the Mic On podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, released on Saturday.
2Baba first made the “criminals have hijacked Nigeria” remark in 2019, when he criticised the country’s political system and described it as being in the grip of corrupt actors. His comments at the time sparked widespread debate across social and political circles.
In a post on his official X handle (formerly Twitter), @official2baba, he wrote: “Naija system is a total joke. Criminals have hijacked Naija. Men and women that have dedicated their time to make sure that Naija will carry last. No shame. No dignity. No honour. I pray the young men that have entered the system will do their best to influence positive change.”
When asked on the podcast whether he still stands by that statement, he responded:
“I still stand by the statement. It’s crazy how things are happening right now and you can’t pinpoint one person. You know that something is wrong. Everybody will hide behind the president. If a DPO in one place in Osun collects bribe or does something wrong, everybody will hide behind, ‘Ah! Na Tinubu, na him cause am.’ That is how it has been day in, day out. All our politicians hide behind one cover.
“As I said about engaging with the youth and sensitising them to understand this thing, they have House of Reps members, they have senators — they fully represent them. I think people should start demanding accountability from that level: from local women chairmen, from councillors, from the House of Representatives. Everybody should start holding everybody accountable.”
Asked whether he believes the nation has indeed been overtaken by corrupt politicians, 2Baba said: “Yes, but I think if it happens that gradually the majority of the people handling things that have to do with service to the community and service to the nation change their mindset, we can move forward. We cannot wipe out corruption totally. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world where corruption doesn’t exist, even if it’s small. But at least let us build, let us grow, let us make our institutions stronger. Right now, we just have people that are powerful. We don’t have institutions that are powerful.”
On the 2027 general elections, the music icon expressed cautious optimism.
“It should be,” he said when asked whether the polls would be free and fair.
However, when pressed on whether he trusts the system to deliver credible elections, he stressed civic vigilance.
“That is the responsibility of all of us now — to put our eyes down and make everybody cooperate. We don’t need to go to the streets to protest. Let this kind of action be the protest. Everybody should stay there and count properly. Wherever you are, just keep your eyes on the process. I think we would have something close to fairness. It can never be perfect, but at least we can have a reasonably good result.
“Politics is not easy. It’s not easy at all to represent people.”
Beyond politics, 2Baba also reflected on personal regrets and lessons from fame.
“Of course, there’s a whole lot of stuff that I wish didn’t go the way they went,” he said.
When asked to specify, he replied simply, “Plenty.”
Identifying one major lesson, he said: “I wish I had serious business knowledge from the beginning. I wish I was given a manual on how to operate fame. If I had a manual, it would have taught me how to manage fame and popularity. I’ve been an open book, and I think it has been a good thing for me, but at the same time it has hurt me gradually. I am very open, very plain. Everybody knows what’s happening in my life, and it’s crazy. But now, it feels like I’m starting to get a bit angry small, small. All in all, I thank God for everything.”
