According to a report by Punch Newspaper, Femi Kuti, Afrobeat legend, has said President Bola Tinubu should not be regarded as Nigeria’s primary problem, arguing that the country’s difficulties are largely caused by deeply established institutional corruption.
He maintained that the problems affecting the nation extend beyond any individual political leader, he said institutions must answer for these failures.
Kuti stated that the judiciary and other institutions charged with enforcing accountability must also bear responsibility for the emergence of leaders who face corruption allegations.
According to him, institutions designed to protect the public interest have a major role in determining whether questionable political figures are allowed to attain public office, he said these institutions must also face scrutiny.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Good News Naija podcast, which began trending today, the musician argued that allegations against Tinubu, if proven, should have been addressed by a credible judicial system before he was permitted to seek the presidency.
He questioned the effectiveness of institutions meant to screen and hold political leaders accountable, he questioned whether allegations were addressed before elections.
The singer further argued that corruption had become deeply embedded within Nigeria’s political and leadership structures.
He suggested that the country’s political elite often operate within the same interconnected network, even when they appear to belong to different political camps or publicly disagree with one another.
Kuti also reflected on the anti-corruption drive initiated during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In discussing efforts made during that period, he referred to the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as part of the government’s response to corruption and mentioned Nuhu Ribadu, who served as the agency’s pioneer chairman.
His remarks focused on the broader institutional weaknesses that, in his view, allow corruption to persist within Nigeria’s political system.
Kuti argued that institutions responsible for justice, accountability and enforcement should be examined when discussing how leaders accused of corruption rise to positions of authority.
“Obasanjo put EFCC to arrest all the corrupt people. One of the first people the EFCC arrested was his daughter,” he said.
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