Iconic afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, on the 61st independence
anniversary of the nation, says he believes there is nothing much to be
celebrated.
In a statement, the saxophonist who is also the convener of
a group, Movement of The People, noted that Nigeria is near collapse as the
high level of hunger, insecurity, unemployment and corruption is ‘worrisome’.
He said, “It is fitting to bring you all warm solidarity
greetings as we celebrate the 61st anniversary of our dear nation! Even though
there is nothing to celebrate, owing to the near-collapse in the state of our
dear nation.
“With the worrisome level of hunger, insecurity, high rate
of unemployment, and wanton looting, the celebration of today’s anniversary
calls for a sober reflection and the need to re-organise ourselves to get
involved in the democratic process with the view to set the nation on the road
to recovery.”
The Grammy award nominee took the opportunity to urge
Nigerians who are of voting age to participate in the voting process in other
to make Nigeria great again.
“The decision to get
Nigeria working from this moribund and mechanistic level is in our ‘thumbs’ and
it is neither in the bombs nor bullets. The Movement of The People has now
given every Nigerian of voting age the political platform to chose credible leaders
across the 36 States and 774 local government of the federation,” Kuti said.
Giving some statistics, the musician claimed that Nigeria
had become the ‘poverty capital of the world’. He said that as the ongoing
voter’s registration has begun, all eligible Nigerians must get their voters
card.
Kuti said, “In 1960, the poverty level was at 15 per cent,
but today, the poverty level is 50 per cent, thereby making the Giant of Africa
the poverty capital of the world. In Fela Anikulapo’s voice, ‘as time de go
things just de bad, poor man de cry’. May the Legendary Abami Eda’s soul
continue to rest in peace!
“The ongoing voter’s registration exercise is the starting
point and all eligible Nigerians must get their voters card as the 2023
election has given us an ample opportunity as a people to collectively unite
using the M.O.P as a platform to dislodge dealers called leaders.”
What he said is very true; my parents have been talking about this for a long time. How Nigeria is not what it used to be when they were growing up; it has gotten so much worse over the decades. As a person whose almost entire family lives there (I'm in the US), it hurts to see and imagine what they are going through. We need to do better; we have to do better as a nation if we are to get out of this turmoil we have ourselves in.
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