Afrobeat sensation Seun Kuti, a Grammy-nominated artist, has passionately appealed to both Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Federal Government to take decisive measures against the military to prevent the looming threat of a coup d’état.
The outspoken singer’s call comes in response to the recent insults hurled at Governor Sanwo-Olu by unidentified soldiers, upset over the arrest of one of their comrades for a traffic violation.
Seun Kuti voiced his concerns, emphasizing that failing to rein in the military’s excesses would not only jeopardize the well-being of civilians but also put politicians at risk.
Kuti ridiculed the soldiers for their threats to “humiliate” VeryDarkMan, a social media influencer supporting Sanwo-Olu’s actions, pointing out the military’s tendency to bully civilians while avoiding confrontations with terrorists.
During an Instagram live session with his fans, Kuti addressed the issue, stating, “I didn’t want to speak on this matter, but when I opened my Instagram this morning and saw a video of one of the unruly soldiers threatening to humiliate VeryDarkMan for commenting on Sanwo-Olu’s actions, I couldn’t stay silent. Sanwo-Olu and others, you don’t understand the gravity of this. Do you think you are immune to military coups? If you don’t act now, rein in this impunity within the armed forces, keep them in their barracks, and hold them accountable for their mistakes… If any soldier misbehaves, ensure the removal of the commandant of the barracks he is attached to.”
He continued, “If you don’t address them firmly, do you think they will only target Fela’s family? You don’t comprehend, as the government claimed unknown soldiers killed my grandmother, Fumilayo Kuti, and protected them. Now, the tables have turned; they are threatening politicians, too.”
Directly addressing the soldier threatening VeryDarkMan, Kuti warned, “If you harm VDM, you won’t find peace either. You flaunt your power against civilians, but when it comes to Boko Haram, you retreat. If Boko Haram attacks, you beg Nigerian civilians for support in your fight against terrorists.”
