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popularly known as 2Baba, has reaffirmed his statement that criminals have hijacked Nigeria, insisting he has not withdrawn his earlier remarks.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 2 make sure that naija will carry last.. No shame. No dignity. No honor. 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 then you can’t pinpoint one person. You know that something is wrong. Everybody will hide behind president. If DPO for one place for Osun collect bribe or do something, everybody will hide behind, Ah! Nah Tinubu nah him cause am, that is how it has been day in day out. All our politicians dey hide behind one cover.
“As I said about engaging with the youth and sensitizing them to understand this thing. Dey get House of Reps, they get senators, Dey fully represent them. I think people should start demanding accountability from that level, from local women chairman, from councilor, from House of Reps. Make everybody 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 majority of the people wey dey handle stuff that has to do service to community, service to the nation. We no fit wipe out corruption totally. I don’t think there’s anywhere in this world where one or two small, small, but at least let us build, let us grow. Let us make our institutions stronger. 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 a responsibility of all of us now. To put our eyes down, and at least make everybody cooperate. We don’t need to go street to go protest. Make nah this kind action. Make nah there the protest take place. Make everybody stay there, count the thing well. Wherever you dey, just put eye for this thing. I think we would have something close. It can never be perfect. But we have something good, at least we have a reasonable good result.
“Politics is… it’s not easy to represent people. It’s not easy at all.”
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 been get serious business knowledge from beginning. I wish that I was given a manual on how to operate… fame… If I get manual, e for teach me how to manage fame and popularity. Because I’ve been an open book… and I think it’s been a good thing for me, but at the same time it’s hurting me gradually. I dey very open, I am very plain. My story… like I am too… Everybody knows what’s happening and it’s crazy. But now, e be like say I go start to dey vex small small, but all in all, I thank God for everything.”
