Folarin Falana, the rapper better known as Falz, says Nigeria is far below other nations categorised as third world countries.
He spoke on Monday at the inaugural #FixPoliticsDialogues, a platform which hosts debates on national issues.
The event, themed ‘1999 Constitution: To change or amend?’, was organised by FixPolitics, a non-profit organisation.
Originally, third-world countries are nations in Asia and Africa that were not aligned with either the United States or the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
However, the term has grown over the years to describe a class of economically developing nations.
Speaking at the event, Falz said the discussion on whether to change or amend the constitution deviates from the conversations which ought to dominate the public space.
He said Nigeria should be involved developing conversations on gender equality, socio-economic issues, among others.
“What I genuinely think is that the discussion right now isn’t the real concern. Nigeria is being referred to as a third world country but if you allow me, we are even a fifth world country or a tenth world country,” he said.
“I will tell you why. What we should be discussing in 2021 should be socioeconomic issues and things that are progressive. I don’t understand why we are still here in 2021.”
Falz described the major challenge in Nigeria as the “culture of impunity”, which he said is fuelled by a lack of consequences for actions.
The rapper said the impunity culture was a major factor that birthed the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
“The real issue is the culture of impunity such that there are no consequences for actions. Anybody can just do anything they want to do and get away with it,” he said.
“This was basically the basis of the outcry last October during the #EndSARS protests. Someone can tell you ‘I will shoot you and nothing would happen’. Why won’t nothing happen? Because we live in a society where there are no consequences for actions.”
Falz called for an amendment of the constitution by focusing on areas of accountability.
He added that right leaders with the needed political should be elected and appointed into government.
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