Member representing Epe Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade on Tuesday decried the spate of extra-judicial killings by the police across the country, especially of young Nigerians.
Olulade’s expressed this dissatisfaction while presenting a scholarship and cash gift to a fatherless young artist, Mr Boniface Ugochukwu, a Graphic Arts student of Government Technical College, Ikorodu, who he met on Facebook.
He spoke against the backdrop of recent killings of a young man, Kolade Johnson at Mangoro area of the state and another young girl, Adah Ifeanyi at Ajegunle area by police.
The lawmaker, who advocated proper dressing and conduct among young people, said having tattoo and dread lock do not make someone a criminal.
“We are having too much of extra-judicial killings. I would say that the Nigeria police need to do a lot on this aspect. There is no discipline in our police force.
“I was driving with some of my constituents on weekend; and a drunk policeman with a gun stopped our vehicle.
“I had to tell the driver to cooperate with him because I knew he was so drunk. It is a serious issue.
“The police are also involved in drugs, how can they arrest those who are involved in drugs? So, we have a big mess in our hands in Nigeria today,’’ Olulade said.
On why policemen are attracted to young men, whose outlook and conduct suggest that they are criminals, Olulade said that more should be done on Nigerian youths.
On the scholarship offered Ogochukwu, the lawmaker called for continued efforts to help Nigerian youths around the country irrespective of their tribe, religion and background.
“I got to know him (Ogochukwu) through the social media, a brother of mine sent me his write up and a picture of his drawings, and paintings where he painted my picture and that of the Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“I got hooked to him and I decided to look out for him. I also shared his post on my facebook page. I met him for the first time today to see what we could do to assist him.
“I want to announce today that the `Eleniyan Care Foundation’ will be taking responsibility of his education henceforth.
“We are giving him scholarship. We will continue to promote young men like this that are doing well and who are committed to developing themselves,’’ he said.
According to Olulade, what attracted him to Ogochukwu was the story the artist told about his post on facebook, when police accosted him and other young people on the road.
“While trying to look out for something incriminating about him, they (policemen) found out that other boys on board were carrying drugs and that they were `yahoo boys’.
“He (Ogochukwu) told the police that he had a talent and that rather than getting himself involved in drugs and `yahoo’, he would continue to use his talents to pay his school fees and live happy,’’ he added.
He frowned at the current waves of get-rich quick mentality among young ones which had led most of them to immorality and criminality.
According to him, Ogochukwu should be used as a point of contact to other young ones to know that they could dress and comport themselves in a respectable manner.
In his remarks, Ogochukwu, popularly called ‘bon best’ said that he was inspired by so many artists and that he had been feeding on art works.
Ogochukwu, a 19-year old student, who could not hide his excitement, knelt down to appreciate Olulade for the gesture.
The Ebonyi state-born young artist said: “Everything around me today is as a result of arts. My greatest joy and achievement is meeting Hon. Olusegun Olulade, Eleniyan.
“I consider it a privilege to meet `Eleniyan’. He knows me from the social media. I was blessed today with the scholarship and the cash gift he gave me.
“I feel more than happy because I never expected it. I decided to make this portrait even though I will do more.
“I started arts at the age of seven and since then I have been feeding from it.”
According to Ogochukwu, he has the mind of stopping his education after leaving technical school but with the scholarship, he will be able to expand his knowledge on arts.
