Ex-PENGASSAN chief charges musicians to be agents of transformation

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By Olu AJAYI (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: MUSICIANS across the genres have been advised to use their talents to ensure that governments at all levels are responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Besides, performing musicians were also charged to ensure that the society, especially, the younger ones imbibe the right values in life through the music they expose themselves to.

Speaking as a resource person at the maiden “Ogun State Indigenous Music Fiesta” held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Friday, Engineer Tajudeen Adisa Olori, said that music should be used to propagate government policies and also utilized to condemn anti-people policies.

Olori, who spoke on the “Artistes Role In the Society”, said that “beyond the conventional role of music as a medium of entertainment, our musicians should strive to ensure that popular government programmes and policies are protected.”

“In the same capacity and engaging the same medium of music, the performing musicians should connect wisdom and sense of responsibility in bringing the attention of government to policies and programmes of government which are oppressive, dehumanising, and sometimes killing,” Olori, a one-time Industrial Relations Officer of NLNG branch of PENGASAN, said.

He counselled the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be more alive to its responsibility of ensuring the sanity of the contents of songs before they hit the airwaves.

While the farmer and oil and gas worker frowned at the lewd content of some songs, he also challenged his audience to ensure that they use their God-given talents to imbibe the right values in the society, particularly the younger elements.

The Convener of the Indigenous Music Fiesta, Rotarian Segun Sowunmi, had earlier urged his members to be socially responsible by paying taxes to government as at when due.

He said his advice was borne of the belief that government would be encouraged to do more for the people if levies and taxes due to the government are paid as at when due.

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