Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has stirred reactions after making fresh remarks while expressing solidarity with activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Speaking on the ongoing legal troubles facing Sowore, Seun Kuti described him as a brother, leader, and personal inspiration, while questioning how dissent and activism are treated in Nigeria today.
According to Seun, he was involved in pro-democracy activities at a young age and recalled receiving flyers from his uncle, the late Beko Ransome-Kuti, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the military era.
In his words:
“This is for my brother, my leader and an inspiration for me, Omoyele Sowore. Our country has no shame. When I was 10 years old, my uncle Dr Beko and President Tinubu used to give us flyers to fight military up and down. If they had caught us then, would that not have been treason? They would have dealt with me even at my younger age.”
The comments have generated debate online, with supporters arguing that democratic societies should protect dissenting voices, while critics questioned parts of Seun’s account and compared the circumstances of past military rule to present-day politics.