The Seun Kuti Police assault incident: The Government and the Nigerian public – Olukayode Onasanya.

A video of Seun Kuti the last child of “Abami Eda” Fela Anikulapo Kuti slapping and harassing a Police Officer in uniform went viral recently.

Seun’s defence was that the Police officer almost killed himself and the occupants of the car they were traveling in, hence his reaction.

He went further to say, after all the confrontation, the Police man accepted his fault(s) and duly apologised, he says he has evidences.

I have however been following the unfolding scenes and the public outrage, most of whom are castigating Seun for his show of shame, lots are saying that Seun calls himself an “Activist” and a “Public Defender”, but that this act is more of “Rascality” than any thing else.

A whole lot also said, Seun is continually bringing shame to the “Anikulapo Kuti” family and he needs to be tamed and checked.

Going forward the Inspector General of Police has called for his arrest, while the Police Service Commission is also saying Seun should be prosecuted.

My Amazement:
The General public have been advocating for an end to Police Brutality, the “End Sars” episode is still fresh in our minds, there have been several articles on main stream media and several posts on Social media condemning the acts of men of the Nigeria Police, to the extent that just recently some policemen were brought to book for harassing members of the public, these corrective actions by the Police were fall outs from videos of Police harassments that went viral on social media.

But here we are, the same Public calling out that the Police is “Not your Friend” are castigating Seun Kuti for his “Public Defending” act and his action against the perceived “Enemy”.

The same Public that were shouting “Hosannah” behind Seun for his ever vocal condemnation of men of the Nigeria Police are the same ones now shouting “Crucify him” for his slapping act.

Take-home:

It is now so evident to me and I am sure to so many others, that all the average Nigerian wants is good governance and a system that works, if not there would have been overwhelming support for Seun for his “Exemplary” and “Bold” act of trying to tame the tamer.

Seun Kuti’s act has been overwhelmingly condemned even by the greatest of critics of today’s Nigeria.

It all points to one fact: Give Nigerians good governance and a system that works, the quote “See Paris and die” would be child’s play compared to what Nigerians would turn Nigeria into.

Nigerians do not want brutes in whatever guise, Politicians, Activists, Uniformed Men etc.

This is all we yearn for, this is all we dream of. A listening government, a government that would put the aspirations of its citizens at heart, a government that would work towards putting systems in place, a government that would ensure fairness and equity.

A government that would abhor all traits of ethnic sentiments, a government that would harness all potentials, natural and human to ensure we get back on track.

A government that works.

Let’s all join hands and be part of the “See Nigeria and Die” train.