Nigeria’s problem is institutional corruption, not Tinubu — Femi Kuti

Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has stated that Nigeria's problems stem from corruption at the highest levels of government rather than President Bola Tinubu personally. Speaking on the Good News Naija podcast, Kuti argued that if Tinubu was truly corrupt, a system staffed by honest officials should have prevented him from running for president.

"Do you think Tinubu is a problem? The judiciary that didn't stop him from getting there in the first place is a problem," Kuti said. Kuti claimed that corruption runs rampant across Nigeria's political and leadership institutions because members of the elite often belong to the same network, regardless of their political affiliations.

He noted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo's anti-corruption campaign, which included the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), failed as Ribadu, the EFCC's first chairman, was removed or forced to resign. Kuti pointed out that Ribadu is now working as Tinubu's security personnel, suggesting a troubling lack of accountability among those in power.

He warned that this cycle could erode young Nigerians' confidence in the country and its institutions, questioning where the belief in a future for the nation lies. Kuti emphasized that tackling Nigeria's issues requires strengthening institutions and ensuring those in authority are held accountable.