Grammy-nominated afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, recently revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was his political mentor and that he has a “robust” relationship with the president, describing him as an “uncle” who served as a mentor to him during his formative years.
Seun Kuti spoke about his close connection with President Tinubu during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo. He explained that he grew up knowing Tinubu as an uncle and that the president was a close friend of his late uncle, Beko Kuti. He credited both Tinubu and other prominent figures like Wole Soyinka and Beko Kuti with instilling political ideas in him and fighting for democracy in Nigeria, particularly during the NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) era when they advocated for democracy in the country.
While Seun Kuti emphasized his personal relationship with President Tinubu, he clarified that he doesn’t have a political relationship with him. He stated that his personal and political views are separate, and he doesn’t believe that political affiliations should be a requirement for expressing one’s opinions. Additionally, he expressed concerns about President Tinubu’s performance, suggesting that he hasn’t been doing well in his political roles.
Seun Kuti’s comments shed light on the complexity of personal and political relationships in Nigerian politics and the freedom to express one’s views irrespective of affiliations.
