The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has provided clarification over its choice to work with contentious performer Azeez Fashola, better known by his stage name Naira Marley, on its drug misuse awareness campaign.
The intentional recruitment of Naira Marley, according to Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokeswoman, attempts to address the problem of drug usage among young people.
Due to Naira Marley’s prior links with glorifying drug usage, the action drew criticism, which sparked debates about the viability of this campaigning tactic.
Babafemi stated, “It is an advocacy engagement with him,” in a Saturday Beats interview.
Promoting advocacy messages that would deter people from substance misuse is what we do as part of the agency’s duties. The message is what matters.
“Remember that he has many youthful admirers who look up to him, Marlians.
The plan is for the movement’s founder, Marlians, to address the public and urge everyone to stop abusing drugs and start living a new life.
The representative for the drug agency added that just because Marley is being used as an advocate does not mean that the agency won’t detain him if he is found in possession of illegal drugs.
“We arrested some of his artists (Zinoleesky and Mohbad) last year,” he claimed.
This serves to demonstrate that we are not averting our gaze.
The same Naira Marley will be punished if he is discovered tomorrow in possession of illegal drugs.
Babafemi stated that detractors should think about the message rather than the messenger.
