‘’The 2011 Fuel Protest Was Politically Motivated, Why I Blatantly Refused To Join APC Despite Pressure From Vice President Osinbajo’’ – Femi Kuti

Eniola Adeniyi

Femi Kuti, the main inheritor of the legacy of music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti has revealed that the huge protest against the 2011 fuel price increase by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan was politically motivated. He also revealed he refused to join the ruling All Progressives Congress despite pressure from Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Femi kuti also a master Afrobeat musician clarified in the face of call out for not taking similar action against a much bigger hike in the pump price of petrol per litre by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 2011 fuel price hike by Kuti and others galvanized tremendous support for Buhari to defeat the then re-election seeking Jonathan.

The celebrated Afrobeat musician whose father was a ferocious voice against government excesses posted on twitter, today – Friday, September 4, 2020 – in the face of continuing taunts over alleged silence in the face increase of the pump price of petrol from N143.80 to N162.00

“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,”