By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The President of African Council on Narcotics, ACON, Barr. Rekpene Bassey, has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to stand down the ambassadorial appointment given to the owner of Marlian Record, Mr. Azeez Adeshina Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley, over the controversial circumstances in which former signee of the music label, llerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, otherwise known as MohBad died.
Bassey made the call in a statement made available to our correspondent in Calabar, yesterday, stressing that, the call became necessary so that the anti-reug agency dosen’t create a wrong impression on the psyche of youths in Nigeria.
The ACON President said, “We 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 to be certain they are fit. The NDLEA should do so to ascertain if the individuals picked by the agency are proper persons capable of flying the brand flag untainted, rather than bringing bad influence on those being targeted by the brand.
Bassey averred that the essence of appointing a brand ambassador is to showcase a positive drive for the brand,and therefore urged the NDLEA to avoid engaging someone whose outward conduct is seemingly anti-ethical to what the NDLEA represents.
He enthused, “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 fellow be a role model for our youth?”
