August 18, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s recent coup against drug abuse didn’t require storming commando style a criminal hideout in a seedy part of Ikorodu or an out-of-the-way fortress in pricey Lekki. There was no bloodletting or even casualties. If anything, souls may have been saved in the careful planning and masterful execution of the coup.
Just today, Nigerians saw a rare photograph, photo-op more like, of the retired military head of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa and a confirmed dope-head Naira Marley born to his parents as Azeez Adesina Fashola. Both were seen side by side like a father/son union. At 69, Marwa can father Naira Marley, who is 32. And both of them had that photo-op right at the headquarters of the NDLEA office in Abuja.
What was the talk about?
Of course, drugs. As any conscientious parent would counsel a wayward ward, the drug czar had invited the poster boy of substance abuse among Nigerian youths. Naira Marley duly obliged the NDLEA chairman. There was a rubbing of mind, as they say, between the avuncular general and his youngish host. By the end of the meeting, the previously pot-chomping chap had become the agency’s goodwill ambassador to join the campaign against drug abuse in Nigeria. Ehn? Yes o!
The scheduled meeting, according to Mr. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Spokesman, was to deliberate on effective strategies to combat the issue of illicit drugs in Nigeria. It worked perfectly like an addict coming out of rehab straight. Babafemi himself was over the moon about the outcome of the meeting between the head of the drug-busting agency and a self-confessed marijuana user.
“Music star Naira Marley,” Babafemi wrote, “in Abuja to declare support for the War against Drug Abuse on Thursday, 17th August 2023.” There is a forthcoming musical video promo to promote that message of abstention from hard drugs, Babafemi went on. The implication is that, instead of the swaying female butts and clouds of weed smoke that used to characterize Naira Marley’s videos, fans may begin to get some tutorials on possible permanent damage to the kidneys with continued substance abuse or some such motivational message.
The musician himself has taken up the fight with zeal, telling Marlians and Nigerian youths to stop doing drugs because it is not good for their well-being. “Let us all stop substance abuse in any form,” Naira Marley urged. “I have keyed into this campaign to support the NDLEA to stop drugs on the streets. Please, join us as drug abuse is not good.”
Accompanied to NDLEA headquarters by some of his close pals and team members such as Sam Larry, Dami Marshal and Chuddy Naira, Naira Marley’s recent reincarnation as a drug fighter is sure to have long-term effects on combating drugs in Nigeria. Psychologists and social workers have always made a case that once you rid junkies of their habits, then dealers are as good as dead. In other words, without the junkies looking for an angry fix, dealers will naturally relocate from shady street corners and then disappear with their destructive merchandise.
But beyond that is zeroing in on models for Nigerian youths such as Naira Marley. At home, in concerts, video promos, at poolsides in hotel lounges or pools in private homes or clubbing, the musician is seldom without his cannabis – making it something very chic the same way Humphrey Bogart made cigarette smoking seem very chic to generations of Americans.
It is true, Naira Marley hasn’t the charisma or genius of Bogey but he has his followers nonetheless – and they are everywhere in Nigeria with their numbers counting. Devoted as they are to him and even calling themselves Marlians, chances are they might listen to whatever message he has to say like a prophet to his followers.
Imitation, psychologists like to say, is the sincerest form of flattery. As of now, there are thousands of Nigerian youths, who see themselves as the musician, dressing like him down to the hairdo and, of course, the ganja. Now a goodwill ambassador for NDLEA as an anti-hard drugs campaigner, will his followers take up Naira Marley’s latest cause and possibly want to be like him?
If they do, then NDLEA’s coup without firing a shot would have been a resounding success. If they don’t, well..
About the Author
Michael Jimoh is a Nigerian journalist with many years experience in print media. He is currently a Special Correspondent with THEWILL.
