A popular Nigerian musician, Mr Dapo Oyebanji (D-banj) on Tuesday in Abuja urged Nigerian youths to shun violence and embrace peace.
D-banj made the call when he visited some victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in company of the FCT Health Secretary, Dr Ademola Onakomaiya, at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.
According to him, government alone cannot do all that is required for peace to reign in the country.
“I am a Nigerian and I am affected by any tragedy that befalls us and particularly in the spirit of Easter, I came to show the victims support.
“I have seen that the survivors are responding positively to treatment and thanked the medical team here for the efforts.
“We are appealing to the perpetrators of these acts to have a rethink and support the peace initiative so that our people would not be subjected to such wickedness,” he said.
D-banj said that terrorism in Nigeria was strange as Nigerians were known to be peace loving and advised them to embrace peace in the interest of development.
He said that artistes should be concerned about achieving peace in Nigeria because if the violence continued, the entertainment industry would be endangered.
D-banj donated several gift items to the victims and also settled some hospital bills.
The hospital management said that over 27 corpses and 26 victims were brought from the blast but 16 were still receiving treatment as others had been discharged.
The FCT Health Secretary urged artistes to support the Federal Government’s fight against terrorism by creating awareness in their performances.
Onakomaiya urged people in the entertainment industry to unite and produce songs, plays, paintings that would condemn and discourage terrorism.
He said that the potency of art as a communication tool amongst Nigerian youths would make it an effective medium in creating awareness.
According to him, security is the responsibility of all Nigerians, therefore, should not be left in the hands of government alone.
Onakomaiya said that the visit of D-banj would go a long way to lift the spirits of the patients.
“You can see that some of the patients are really excited to see a renowned artiste like D-banj visit them; it is very commendable,” he said. (NAN)
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