The Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has stated that public figures cannot afford to stay silent while innocent citizens face security challenges, explaining his decision to protest the abduction of Oyo State schoolchildren during his recent international performance.
During his opening ceremony appearance at the FIFA World Cup, the singer wore a customized outfit displaying the names of the missing pupils and their teachers to draw global attention to their plight.
In a recent interview, Davido criticized the tendency of some influential figures to hide local crises in an attempt to protect the country’s international reputation.
He argued that human lives are far more important than public relations.
“A lot of people do not want to talk about what is happening in my country because they want to protect a lot of images. Which image is there to protect if little children are being kidnapped?” Davido stated.
The singer added that while he felt privileged to perform on such a massive international stage, he believed it was his responsibility as an artist to use his platform to speak for those who cannot be heard.
At the time of his remarks, the abducted students and their teachers remained missing.