Nigeria: Musicians Rises Up Against Crime

Nigeria: Musicians Rises Up Against Crime

Daily Champion (Lagos)

25 September 2007
Posted to the web 25 September 2007

Davidson Njoku
Lagos

A strong army of Nigerian musicians have put on their armour of war and are set for a decisive battle against the nagging problem of pervasive crime in Nigeria Davidson Njoku reports.

NIGERIAN musicians have evolved a new anti-crime formular that seem very promising. It is a campaign that can best be described as a revolution.

Although some people are always afraid when they heard the word revolution and equates it to violent situation and people killing each other, the kind of revolution which these musicians have in mind is a peaceful one. It is a nationwide crusade involving the use of music to fight crime and guide the country's youths along the path of integrity, hardwork, good vision and patriotism.

The national coordinator of the project, Paul Graham who is the Executive Director of Rich Rockers Entertainment Limited and also a leading member of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) told the Daily Champion that the project is a product of several years of research on how the entertainment industry can help in stemming the tide of crime in the country.

He unfolded the vision thus: "Many musicians, actors and actresses in the country are being convicted for one serious crime or the other on regular basis. Most of this artists are regarded by their fans as role models. The consequences is that when these stars fumbles up and finds themselves on the wrong side of the law, many of their admirers, especially, the youths tend to emulate such acts, no matter how evil it is and conclude consciously or subconsciously that it is the vogue or fashionable way of doing things. We believe that artists always have their followership and are like people in glass houses who must not throw stones".

How does the National Coordinator intend to fulfill the vision. Graham's answer is that the project will be executed in phases and in every stage, the group will work closely with the polices and depend on it for logistics and security in the awareness that it is the primary responsibility of the police to safeguard the society against crime.

Beyond the obvious method of using music to mobilize people and send across the message of sanity peace and love, the group will organize series of workshops, seminars and talk shows that will focus on positive youth development. The emphasis will be on youths because according to Paul Graham, overwhelming majority of the crimes and evil perpetrated in the country are carried out by young people.

As a take-off point, Musician Against Crime are packaging a grand lecture and seminar at Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja on October 1st, the independence anniversary day.

Commenting on this forthcoming event, Paul Graham stated that his group has received tremendous support from well meaning individuals and corporate organizations. For instance, the Oraniyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel venue of the event was donated by the management of the hotel as a token of appreciation for what the groups stands for and what they plan to achieve. Similarly, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, MD Abubakar, has personally directed the Area Commander, Zone "F", AC Oshodi Glover to represent him at the occasion and support the organization with the necessary logistics and security.

The occasion will be chaired by Mr. Frank Odita, a security expert and social commentator, while Barrister Solomon Mbadiwe will serve as resource person.

Graham pointed out that the artists who will be involved in the project will not just be using their talents to preach against crime to people, they will be preaching to themselves as well, and be able to say loud and clear, "Never Again" shall an artist mess up himself with crime and be paraded publicly.

Said the National coordinator concerning the forthcoming seminar and lecture, "We have written to local governments in Lagos state to send youths from their respective councils to the event. Such youths will benefit immensely from the lecture and go back to their local governments to set up anti-crime clubs which will liaise with security agencies in crime detection and prevention as well as the eradication of corruption in the public and private sector. Policemen are not magicians as far as crime prevention is concerned. They need to be assisted and facilitated to be able to do their best.

Some of the packages for the anti-crime project include the production of a theme song . There will be a command performances followed by a public performance on a later date. A yearly anti-crime carnival will also be showcased. To this end, a letter has been written to the Governors of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to host the maiden edition. The show, he said, will help to douse tension in the Niger Delta and will execute the anti-corruption war so fiercely that a strong signal will be sent to all and sunday, locally and internationally.

Graham declared. "There is anger in the land that our collective wealth is being squandered by a few. We need to change our lifestyle - people display wealth arrogantly in the midst of poverty. The get - rich - quick syndrome have become the order of the day.

"The project will talk about why people go into crime and the role of government in arresting those social conditions that compels people to go into crime or makes some societies to glorify successful big - time crooks. We will uproot and destroy those factors that makes our girls and ladies to continue going into prostitution in droves not minding the various deadly venereal diseases in town. We shall find lasting solutions to the escalating problem of ritual killing, money laundering, human trafficking, etc.

"The task at hand is intimidating but with the support of well meaning individuals and corporate organization we are equal to the task", said the national coordinator.