Seun Kuti, the renowned Afrobeat musician and son of the legendary Fela Kuti, has opened up about the deep pain his family endured under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Seun claimed that Buhari caused more harm to his family than to any other in Nigeria during his time in power.
Seun did not hold back in expressing how Buhari’s leadership affected his family. He said the late president’s actions “dealt with” and “damaged” his family deeply. According to him, no other family in Nigeria suffered as much under Buhari’s rule as the Kuti family did.
In a video posted on his Instagram page, Seun said, “There’s nobody Buhari has offended and damaged like my family. Buhari dealt with my family, but his death is not any type of justice or victory for my family.”
While Buhari’s death may have closed a painful chapter in Nigeria’s history, Seun expressed regret that justice did not come while Buhari was alive. His sorrow is greater because his late father, Fela Kuti, and his two uncles, Koye and Beko, who were also victims of Buhari’s policies and persecution, passed away long before Buhari himself.
Seun described his father and uncles as “better men” than Buhari. He lamented that they never lived to see the day Buhari died, suggesting that their suffering was left unresolved.
He added, “My only regret is that my dad Fela, and my uncles Koye and Beko died before him; all better men than him. The only solace I can take from his death is that the three of them will gang up against him in the afterlife if there’s such a thing.”
The Kuti family has long been known for standing up to oppression and injustice. Fela Kuti, Seun’s father, was a powerful critic of military rule and corrupt governments in Nigeria. His uncles, Koye and Beko, also shared this legacy of resistance.
Seun’s comments remind Nigerians of the turbulent years under Buhari’s military regime in the 1980s and later his presidency from 2015 until his recent death. During Buhari’s military rule, Fela Kuti and his family faced arrests, raids, and brutal crackdowns. These events left lasting wounds on the family and their supporters.
Muhammadu Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later as democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023, died on Sunday in a London clinic. His death marked the end of a long and controversial chapter in Nigeria’s political history.
His remains were laid to rest in his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State, on Tuesday. The burial was attended by dignitaries, family members, and supporters, bringing closure to a figure who had deeply divided opinions across the country.
Buhari’s death sparked mixed feelings nationwide. While some mourned the loss of a former leader, others remembered the difficult years under his rule. Seun Kuti’s statement reflects the pain many Nigerians felt, especially those who suffered persecution or injustice during Buhari’s time in power.
As Nigeria moves forward, voices like Seun Kuti’s urge the nation to remember its past honestly. The wounds left by political struggles and family tragedies like the Kuti’s are a reminder of the cost of leadership and the need for justice.
Seun’s message, shared with raw emotion, calls for reflection, not only on Buhari’s legacy but also on the sacrifices made by those who dared to speak out.
