by Wilfred Okiche
If there has been one boogey-man for some of the young people, especially on social networks, angry about the fuel subsidy removal by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, it has been pop icon and music entrepreneur Dapo Oyebanjo, known as D’banj.
It is easy to understand. He endorsed the president, re-mixed his popular song for use by the president’s campaign, interviewed the president on television as an “ambassador for the youth” and then organized an Abuja concert in support of the president during the 2011 elections.
Well, D’banj has finally spoken out on the federal government’s decision to remove the subsidy on fuel. The ‘Oliver’ singer took to his Twitter handle, ‘@iamdbanj’: ”Ok so I haven’t said anything about the subsidy cos just like every Nigerian citizen I am as surprised as we all are and yes I supported GEJ openly and fully but I haven’t been made the special adviser to the president on youths. All I can say about the Subsidy is the obvious truth that my fans, friends, family and we the masses are the ones feeling the pain now.”
While D’banj stopped short of withdrawing his support of the President, it will be recalled that his producer Don Jazzy had publicly expressed his regrets on voting president Goodluck Jonathan shortly after the announcement of the unpopular decision.
Of course, the reactions were swift and furious, though some made the important point that D’banj is an entertainer and not a political appointee. See some of the reactions on Twitter below:
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