President of the African Council on Narcotics (ACON), Rekpene Bassey, has urged government agencies to promote ambassadors who have a positive impact on the society.
This was as he knocked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for promoting Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley.
Speaking in the wake the controversies surrounding the death of musician, Mohbad, in which Naira Marley has been accused of being a suspect, Bassey said an ambassador should showcase a positive drive for a brand.
“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.
He said: “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?
“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.
