Hardship is no excuse for stealing — Okey Bakassi

Comedian and traditional ruler of the Umuihuocha Autonomous Community in Imo State, Okey Bakassi, has condemned stealing, stressing that hardship should never be used as justification for crime.

He spoke against the backdrop of a recent experience where he and his friends were victims of theft during a friendly football match.

In an interview with Sunday Scoop, he said, “Difficulties are real, but they do not justify stealing. We all have a responsibility to behave properly, regardless of circumstances. In Nigeria, there are structures in place. Everyone has representatives, from the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“If people are truly facing hardship, there are channels to seek help and make their voices heard. The real question is, how many people actually make the effort to engage these systems? How many go to their representatives to say, ‘We are suffering, we need support’? There is still a lot of work to be done in that regard. Resorting to crime should never be the response to hardship.”

Recounting his experience, Bakassi said, “More recently, a similar incident happened again. Someone stole about four phones at an event. From the information I have been getting, this is not an isolated case. Different individuals have been involved in similar incidents in other places.”

Reacting to opinions that traditional rulers should refrain from engaging in casual activities such as playing football, he maintained that leadership does not require isolation from everyday life.

“People tend to have a fixed perception of traditional rulers as distant or completely removed from everyday realities, but that is not always the case. Many of us come from backgrounds where our families have served in different capacities. Becoming a traditional ruler does not mean you stop living or engaging with society.

“It does not mean you withdraw from responsibility or reality. Leadership is continuous, and it requires staying active, aware, and relevant to your community,” he added.