Veteran Nigerian musician and galala music pioneer, Daddy Showkey, has openly condemned the recent directive by Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, ordering the arrest of individuals with dreadlocks in the state. The singer, known for his iconic dreadlocks and street-influenced music style, did not hold back in voicing his disapproval of the governor’s controversial stance.
Governor Bago made headlines earlier in the week after instructing security operatives during a security meeting in Minna to apprehend and shave individuals wearing dreadlocks. He claimed the move was a part of his administration’s strategy to tackle rising insecurity in Minna, the state capital.
However, Daddy Showkey, a long-standing advocate for youth expression and freedom of identity, responded strongly via his Instagram page. The music star questioned the logic behind linking dreadlocks to criminal activities and went further to cancel a planned trip to Niger State.
In a direct message to the governor, Showkey criticized the order and mockingly suggested that the governor should lead by example by shaving his own facial hair before targeting others. “Mohammed Umar na Dada be your problem? I dey come to Minna but now that you asked your security agents to cut off dreadlocks, so hold your state but make you cut your beer beer,” he wrote.
Showkey’s reaction has since sparked conversations online, with many Nigerians echoing his concerns about profiling based on appearance. Critics argue that the directive is discriminatory and reinforces negative stereotypes about people with dreadlocks, particularly young men.
As a respected figure in the Nigerian music scene and a symbol of street credibility, Daddy Showkey’s statement brings attention to the broader issue of individual rights and identity in a society grappling with insecurity and youth unrest.
