Nigeria’s young and well known musical icon Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka MOHBAD died on 12 September 2023. He was interred within 24hours thereafter at Ikorodu in Lagos under controversial circumstances.
It transpired that the unfortunate death of MOHBAD has since then been stirring diverse national comments. In the wake of this, the Nigeria Police authorities directed detailed special homicide inquest into the cause of his death. Consequently, the homicide investigators swung into action with several steps including the exhuming of his remains for autopsy.
Several persons are being interrogated and/or interviewed over the case. All of these is being done because of the suspicion that his death was masterminded through forced ingestion of some deadly substances by certain folks who were directly or indirectly connected to him.
However, as we await the outcome of official security investigation into the case, it may be expedient to question the rationale for the engagement of one of those suspected to be the brains behind MOHBAD’s death namely Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley as an ambassador of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) – Nigeria’s foremost anti-drug agency.
Naira Marley hardly represents any strong positive social energy as can be seen in his public conduct and the character traits of the so-called Marlians modelling after him. Most of them are deviants, to say the least; engulfed in youth bulge, cultism, pretty criminality, internet fraud and the abuse of dangerous drugs. How can such a fellow be a role model for our youth?
The essence of appointing a brand ambassador is to showcase a positive drive for the brand. To engage someone whose outward conduct is seemingly antiethical to what the NDLEA represents is tantamount to official endorsement of what the agency is supposed to be against. We hereby call upon the NDLEA to stand down that appointment so as not to create a wrong impression on the psyche of our youth, particularly at this time.
Going forward, government agencies intending to confer brand ambassadors on proposed persons must carefully profile such a person(s) to be certain they are fit and proper persons capable of flying the brand flag untainted and very high rather than bringing bad influence on those being targeted by the brand.
Rekpene Bassey is President, African Council on Narcotics, ACON.
