Sowore Slams Tinubu Over Fela’s Grammy Tribute, Calls President ‘Hypocritical’

Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s congratulatory message to late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, following the musician’s posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

President Tinubu hailed Fela as more than a music icon, describing him as “a bold voice for ordinary people, a deep thinker on freedom, and a powerful force who used music to challenge injustice.” He added that Fela’s work “transformed global music and delivered messages that continue to resonate worldwide,” noting that his courage, talent, and convictions “shaped his era and continue to inspire generations.”

However, Sowore took to 𝕏 to label the president’s tribute hypocritical. He argued that Fela, known for his fearless activism, would have clashed with the current government if alive.

“Don’t mind Hypocritical Tinubu on Fela Kuti,” Sowore wrote. “If Fela were still alive, he would almost certainly have confronted today’s political power. After publicly calling Tinubu a criminal, he would likely have been arrested, with the DSS charging him with cybercrime offences.”

Sowore further claimed that Fela’s opposition to the demolition of poor people’s homes would have drawn retaliation, possibly including police raids on his shrine and attacks from political thugs. He also referenced the historic incident when Fela’s international passport was allegedly seized by the immigration service on his way to receive a Grammy.

The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Fela’s legacy as a social critic and contemporary political leadership, sparking debates on freedom of expression and government accountability in Nigeria.