United Nations has said artiste, Oladapo Oyebanjo better known as D’Banj, is not a United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace, contrary to circulating reports.
The Director of Information, United Nations Information Centre for Nigeria, Joseph Kayanja, said this during an email chat with The Punch on Wednesday.
Following the rape allegation leveled against D’Banj by Seyitan Babatayo, an online petition set up by one E. Popoola began calling on the UN to strip the musician of the title.
Read Also: Alleged Rape: Over 15,000 Sign Petition To Strip Dbanj Of UN Appointment
The petition on Change.org has been signed by over 22,000 people as at June 24, 2020.
In 2012, D’Banj’s publicists had announced that the musician was the first Nigerian to be appointed a UN Youth Ambassador for Peace, an appointment which is also featured on his Wikipedia page.
Responding to an inquiry from the media outlet, the UN has now declared that D’Banj was never at any time given the title of ambassador by the UN.
The email read in part;
I would like to confirm that the said Mr. Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj is not a UN Ambassador. The title was accorded to him by an obscure UN youth association which has nothing to do with the United Nations. I hope this clarifies.
Some human rights activists and persons interested in the ongoing issue have been calling on brands such as Heritage Bank Africa, One Africa, CSA Global, and other establishments to disassociate themselves from Dbanj and stand in support of victims of sexual violence.
It is rumored that a N45 million endorsement deal with Heritage Bank Africa which the Kokomaster recently signed to mark his 40th birthday has been suspended due to the rape allegation.
