Seun Kuti, son of Fela Kuti, late Afrobeat legend, says it is funny that most celebrities advocating proscription of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) still have police escorts who oppress citizens in the course of protecting them.
Several Nigerians including Wizkid, Naira Marley, Runtown and Toke Makinwa recently called on the federal government to scrap the police unit amid public outcry.
The renewed protests against SARS started on Saturday after a video showing a man allegedly gunned down in Delta by operatives of the police unit went viral.
But in an Instagram live session, the 37-year-old Afrobeat singer said what Nigerians should really be clamouring for is an end to oppression, not SARS.
According to him, some celebrities pretend to be enthusiastic about the #EndSARS campaign, when in reality they are not willing to end the extant system which oppresses people because they are also beneficiaries.
“All the celebrities and others making noise about SARS have police escorts. Why are celebrities always happy about #EndSARS, why not say end oppression? What are they afraid of?,” he asked.
“You know what, because they all love the status quo. Because without this system, maybe many people won’t have the kind of money that they have now.”
The singer said it was about time Nigerians resisted oppression in the country by taking concrete steps, adding that the situation would not change by mere words.
“You can never beg your oppressor for freedom, you have to fight for it. Everyone knows there’s police brutality. Even if they end SARS, is that the end of harassment of Nigerians by the police, army and customs?,” Seun said.
“Until we are ready to remove domination and oppression from our families and the society at large, then they are not ready. We have to end oppression in our society.”
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