For a while now, popular rap artiste, Ruggedman, has made it a point of duty to preach against erring SARS officers. In fact, he is one of the few Nigerian celebrities championing the end SARS campaign.
While most Nigerians have lauded his efforts, a few are not on the same page with him, one of those few include his colleague, Mo Cheddah. While reacting to Ruggedman’s call for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Nigeria Police, Mo Cheddah asked Ruggedman to stop forcing his belief and cause on other entertainers.
Although the rap artiste did not respond to her comment, Nigerians had a field day tongue-lashing Mo Cheddah for her comment.
In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, Ruggedman was quick to state that he was shocked that a fellow Nigerian would make such a comment despite everything the SARS officers have done.
He added that he had no issues with Mo Cheddah as he likened her to a kid. Ruggedman said, “I really would not want to take issues with anyone at this time because I am currently putting finishing touches to my Ruggedman’s Twentieth September Wears clothing line as I am set to unveil its first hoodie and new t-shirt designs. However, Mo Cheddah and I do not have a beef; why would I have a beef with a child? The first and only time I ever saw her was when she ran to my car somewhere in Maryland to tell me that she loves my songs and she is my fan. That was the first and only time I met her. I cannot have any issues with her. If I have issues with anyone who is fighting a good cause, I would not use that cause to display any negative thing. What she did is just unfortunate but she was really tongue-lashed by Nigerians and celebrities. I was very happy that celebrities also condemned what she said. She was very wrong. But like I told someone, her comment helped us to propagate the word the more. That is what I picked from the whole encounter and not what she said because that does not really matter to me.”
He said that when he first saw her comment, the first thing that came to his mind was that she must have been ‘on something’.
“When I saw Mo Cheddah’s reply to my call on SARS, the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘what is she on?’ Any well-meaning Nigerian would understand what I am saying. She said something like ‘I am trying to force my belief on people,’ what does she mean by my belief? I am not talking about religion, instead I am speaking for the innocent people that are being brutalised and not Ruggedman being brutalised. She also said something about me not forcing people to fight my cause. How is it my cause when it is other people that are being brutalised? I am actually fighting other people’s cause. The bottom line is that if she really did not have anything to say, she should have kept quiet, sadly for her, she was tongue-lashed by Nigerians and that is why I did not say anything about her comment.
“Till now, I still don’t understand why she would make such a statement but I am not bothered because what I am fighting for is bigger than anybody’s comment. I am sure that when she saw the response from Nigerians, she knew that she had messed up but ego would not let her delete the comment. It is just like the video she later did where she was insulting people. Although she later deleted it, unfortunately, it was too late for her because the bloggers had picked it up.”