Afrobeat legend Seun Kuti has made startling allegations against late Nigerian politician MKO Abiola, accusing him and his wife, Simbiat, of orchestrating a false robbery accusation against his father, music icon Fela Kuti.
According to Seun, the incident unfolded during the military dictatorship of Muhammadu Buhari. This was under the strict laws enforced by Deputy Head of State Tunde Idiagbon, where armed robbery was punishable by death.
Seun Kuti claimed that MKO Abiola and Simbiat fabricated a story alleging that Fela Kuti and his associates had violently stolen their Ferrari at gunpoint. This accusation, Seun asserted, was part of a plot to incriminate Fela and potentially lead to his execution under the draconian laws of the time.
In his words, "Abiola and his wife, Simbiat, lied against Fela that he and his boys robbed her of her Ferrari at gunpoint under Idiagbon’s regime," Seun Kuti stated. "This was Abiola and his wife’s plan to kill my dad because, under Idiagbon, armed robbery was punishable by death."
Furthermore, Seun Kuti stated that Fela was performing in Cameroon on the day Simbiat claimed the robbery occurred in Lagos. This provided an alibi and prevented Fela from being prosecuted. In response to the false accusation, Seun recounted an incident where Fela and his son, Femi Kuti, symbolically protested by delivering buckets of feces to Abiola's residence.
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"Responding, Fela and my elder brother, Femi, took 12 buckets of faeces go and listen to his song – give me shit, I give you shit – then you will have a better understanding. They took it to Abiola’s house in the middle of the night and smeared his compound," Seun Kuti explained.
Meanwhile, Seun Kuti's allegations have sparked renewed interest in the turbulent political history of Nigeria during the 1980s. This highlights the complex relationships and power dynamics of the era.
Lastly, officials from the Abiola family or their representatives have not yet responded to Seun Kuti's claims.
