Tinubu is not Nigeria’s main problem, institutional corruption is — Femi Kuti

Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not Nigeria’s fundamental problem, identifying institutional corruption and weak public institutions as the country’s major challenges.

Kuti made the remarks during a recent episode of the GoodNews Naija podcast, where he discussed governance, corruption and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s institutions.

The musician questioned how Tinubu was able to contest for the presidency despite allegations surrounding his past, arguing that the judiciary and other institutions should have addressed such issues before the election.

“Do you think Tinubu is the problem? The judiciary that didn’t stop him from getting there in the first place is a problem. If all the allegations against him are true, how did he contest?

“If we had men and women of calibre and integrity, he wouldn’t have been able to contest in the first place,” he said.

Kuti said corruption was deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s political and institutional structures, arguing that the problem extended beyond any individual occupying the presidency.

He maintained that many people in positions of authority across the country’s institutions belong to the same political and economic elite, making it difficult to tackle systemic corruption.

The singer also linked institutional failures and corruption to growing frustration among young Nigerians, saying the situation could undermine their confidence in the country’s future.

His comments come amid continuing debates over governance, accountability and the strength of Nigeria’s institutions under the Tinubu administration.