Director, Media & Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi has explained why the agency chose controversial artiste, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, for its drug abuse advocacy.
Babafemi gave the explanation following the controversy that greeted the agency’s choice.
Naira Marley, who is known to publicly glorify drug abuse, set tongues wagging after a video of him advising youths to stop taking illicit substances went viral on the internet.
Babafemi said that enlisting Naira Marley in the battle against drug abuse was a strategic decision to reach the musician’s massive supporters base.
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“It is an advocacy engagement with him. It is what we do as part of the responsibilities of the agency to promote advocacy messages that would discourage people from substance abuse. It is about the message.
“Don’t forget that he has a lot of young followers— Marlians— that look up to him. The idea is for the leader of the movement (Marlians) to come out and ask people to stop substance abuse, and live a new life,” he told The Punch.
He added that making Naira Marley an advocate did not preclude him from arrest if he was found with illicit substances.
“Last year, we arrested some of his artistes (Zinoleesky and Mohbad). That is to show that we are not closing our eyes. If the same Naira Marley is caught with illicit substances tomorrow, he will face sanctions,” Babafemi said.