Nigerian singer and activist, Seun Kuti, has urged citizens to go beyond merely protesting and to focus on driving real, lasting change in the country. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, September 8, 2024, Kuti addressed the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, which have arisen in response to the increasing hardships in Nigeria.
Kuti emphasized that while protests are important, they should only mark the beginning of a broader movement for change. He compared protests to a child complaining to caring parents about not liking a meal, noting that unlike a caring parent, the government is indifferent to the grievances of the people.
“What I would say to Nigerians is that protest is not enough. I see protests like a child going to a loving parent and saying, ‘Oh, daddy, mummy, I don’t want to eat this.’ But in this case, the people we are protesting to do not care. That’s why I don’t only advocate for protests; I advocate for mass organisation because we, the people, must organise ourselves to take power.”
Kuti further stressed that protesting against poor governance is not sufficient. He urged Nigerians to prepare to take control of the system, not by replacing current political parties with a similar alternative, such as the past switch from the PDP to APC, but by empowering new, genuine representatives who will serve the people’s interests.
He also called on Nigerians to mobilize themselves to challenge and dismantle the capitalist system currently in place. “Protests are just the beginning of this dance. The real work starts when we organize ourselves into a mass socialist movement to free this country from the grip of capitalism,” Kuti explained.
His message centered on the idea that for true change to happen, Nigerians need to not only express their dissatisfaction but also be ready to take direct action to shape the country’s future in a way that benefits the masses.
