Over 14,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the United Nations to strip popular Nigerian musician, Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj of his appointment as United Nations Ambassador for Peace.
They petitioners also wants brands such as Heritage Bank Africa, One Africa, CSA Global, and other establishments associated with D’Banj to end their commercial relationship with him as their sign of solidarity with victims of rape and other gender based violence.
The petition which was started by one E.Pooola 20 hours ago on Change.Org had hit 14, 310 as of 11.10 am on Friday.
However many observers believe it would be difficult for reputable brands and institutions to act based on just allegations.
It read in part, “We call on the United Nations, and United Nations Women Africa organisations to remove Nigerian artiste Mr Dapo Oyebanjo as a youth ambassador and distance themselves from his actions following the sponsored kidnap of Seyitan who accused D’Banj of rape and sexual assault which happened in 2018.
“Women in Nigeria are increasingly at risk of sexual violence and the United Nations and United Nations Women Africa as an entity committed to the empowerment of women should not be seen to associate themselves with alleged rapists, abusers, and kidnappers.
“We ask the United Nations and United Nations Women Africa to support and lend their influence in helping Seyitan get justice for the abuse she endured in 2018 and the harassment and bullying in the past weeks.”
It could be recalled that The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has already ordered a probe into the allegations of rape levelled against D’Banj.
One Benjamin Ese, in a Twitter thread early June, had told the story of how D’Banj allegedly raped a lady, Seyitan at a hotel two years ago – in December 2018.
She said it happened at an all-white party where D’Banj allegedly offered her friend some money to spend the night which she rejected until he surprisingly showed up in Seyitan’s hotel room around midnight to commit the alleged offence.
(Change.Org )
