“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” — James Baldwin
Lagos state is often regarded as Nigeria’s global face. For many of us living abroad, once people learn we are Nigerian, the next question is frequently, “Are you from Lagos?” That instinctive association speaks to the state’s visibility and symbolic weight. Because of that prominence, it would be troubling if Lagos were to become known not for enterprise and culture, but for viral displays of anti-social conduct amplified by social media and absorbed by impressionable young people.
Public influence is not a decorative title. It is power. And power, when exercised carelessly, leaves damage behind.
That is why the recent livestream involving Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, also known as Carter Efe, should trouble us all. Watching two massively followed entertainers pelting stones at each other’s cars on live camera was not entertainment but, sadly, deeply disturbing. The noise, the cheering, and the spectacle of destruction presented recklessness as entertainment. It became even more unsettling upon learning that the brand new Toyota involved had reportedly just been gifted to Carter Efe by the popular 5-star Record label boss, Emeka Okonkwo E-Money. What should have symbolised generosity and gratitude was reduced to ordinary content.
This is not an isolated concern. Only months ago, Peller crashed his Mercedes-Benz while livestreaming. When such incidents recur without visible consequences, they risk becoming normalised. Carter Efe’s participation in the recent episode shows that the problem is not individual but cultural. When recklessness attracts applause instead of accountability, repetition is inevitable.
Influencers are called that for a reason. Their actions travel faster and farther than those of private citizens. Young people watch. They imitate. They internalise what is rewarded with views and laughter. Influence without responsibility is dangerous. When public figures trivialise destruction, speed, or risk for engagement, they help cultivate a climate where caution appears weak and excess appears admirable.
It is even more disheartening that, after publicly expressing displeasure, E-Money reportedly gifted Peller a new 2025 Toyota Corolla while assisting with Carter Efe’s repairs. Whatever the intention behind the gesture, the optics are troubling. When individuals in positions of influence respond to destructive conduct with expensive gifts rather than visible accountability, it risks sending the message that consequences are negotiable. Public figures, especially those regarded as elders or role models, are often expected to reinforce standards, not blur them. Moments like this tell us that we still have work to do in consolidating influence with responsibility.
Celebrities must recognise the burden of visibility. I hope the Lagos state government, especially the office of the diligent commissioner for environment, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, will give this development the attention it deserves. Both streamers constituted a nuisance to the public by engaging in anti-social activity.
Some of the crises rocking our society are not solely about infrastructure. They are also about values. Where recklessness attracts no real consequences and responsibility is unfashionable, dangerous behaviour becomes a regular feature of such a society.
By and large, accountability is not equivalent to persecution but is rather a form of prevention. If these episodes slide without sanction, imitation spreads, and the line between entertainment and endangerment vanishes. A society laughing at shattered glass today risks mourning shattered lives tomorrow.
Folorunso Fatai Adisa is a communication strategist and columnist. He holds a master’s degree in media and communication from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and writes from the United Kingdom. He can be contacted via folorunsofatai03@gmail.com
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