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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Nigeria's problem is institutional corruption, not Tinubu, Femi Kuti

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti argues Nigeria's core issue is systemic corruption, not President Bola Tinubu.
  • Kuti stated that flawed institutions, particularly the judiciary, enable corrupt leaders to attain power.
  • He cited the case of former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu, who is now Tinubu's security personnel, to illustrate the cyclical nature of elite involvement in corruption.

Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti believes Nigeria's persistent problems stem from deeply ingrained institutional corruption rather than President Bola Tinubu himself. Kuti asserted that the judiciary and other accountability bodies are complicit in allowing leaders accused of corruption to rise to power.

Do you think Tinubu is a problem? The judiciary that didn’t stop him from getting there in the first place is a problem.

— Femi KutiKuti explains his view that institutional failure, not the president, is Nigeria's main issue.

"Do you think Tinubu is a problem? The judiciary that didn’t stop him from getting there in the first place is a problem," Kuti stated during a recent podcast. He questioned how allegations against Tinubu could be ignored if the judicial system were staffed by individuals of integrity, suggesting such a system would have prevented his presidential candidacy.

If all what they are saying is true, how did he contest? If we had men and women of calibre and integrity, he would not have been able to contest in the first place.

— Femi KutiKuti elaborates on how a strong judiciary should have prevented a potentially corrupt leader from running for office.

Kuti pointed to a pervasive network among Nigeria's elite, transcending political divides. He recalled the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the subsequent removal of its pioneer chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, due to alleged threats. Kuti noted that Ribadu now serves as Tinubu's security personnel, highlighting the interconnectedness of political figures. "This same Ribadu is now Tinubu’s security personnel. So you see, it’s the same people. They go to the same parties. They go to the same weddings. They hug themselves. They do everything together," he observed.

This same Ribadu is now Tinubu’s security personnel. So you see, it’s the same people. They go to the same parties. They go to the same weddings. They hug themselves. They do everything together.

— Femi KutiKuti illustrates the interconnectedness of political figures by referencing Nuhu Ribadu's current role and past association.

The musician expressed concern that this environment erodes the confidence of young Nigerians in the nation's institutions and their future prospects. He stressed that genuine progress requires strengthening these institutions and ensuring accountability for those in positions of authority.

A young boy of 15 that has this history, or 20, when you see what is going on, where is your belief in the system? Where is your belief that you have a future in this country?

— Femi KutiKuti expresses concern about the impact of perceived corruption on the younger generation's faith in Nigeria.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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