I was deceived to join Fuel Protest against Jonathan’s govt, says Fela’s son
I Got Deceived to Join Fuel Protest Against Jonathan Govt–Fela’s son
Popular Nigerian musician and son of legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti has said he was deceived by political actors to join the January 2012 Ojota Fuel Protest where South-West politicians staged against the then government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Jonathan proposed increase in fuel prices as a means of removing a controversial fuel subsidy. But opposing political actors staged a protest in Lagos, the crippled the Nigerian economy. The series of protest and backlash culminated in the defeat of the Jonathan government by Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
I was deceived to join Fuel Protest against Jonathan’s govt, says Fela’s son
Some Nigerians are throwing jabs at their opinions leaders for failing to act in the same manner they did in 2011 as Buhari’s government increased the fuel prices unilaterally in the face of Covid-19 pandemic. Last week Buhari’s administration raised the prices of petroleum product to N151.
Femi Kuti, a major actor in the January 2012 protest took to his Twitter handle @femiakuti to clarify his role:
“I want to state for clarity and posterity my role in the Ojota protest. I was invited for what I and many believed was a genuine cause regarding the cost of fuel. As soon as I found out it was politically motivated I pulled out. I got a lot of backlash at the time but stood my ground. For the record I have NEVER and will NEVER affiliate with any political party that I don’t feel has the genuine interest of the people of Nigeria at heart. Even when the VP approached me to join APC, I blatantly refused as I also refused to join PDP or any other political party”, he tweeted.