Seun Kuti: Is The Nigerian Police Under Attack From Celebrities?

By Kesandu Egburonu

Four years ago, in December 2018, popular celebrity, ‘Small Doctor,’ was arrested by the Nigerian Police. His offence? He had an argument with a traffic Police officer and proceeded to threaten him with the words, “I will fire you.” Next, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at the officer. He was subsequently picked up by the Police for this attack on an officer of the law.

It appeared a case of deja vu when, during the weekend, Seun, son of popular Afrobeat star, Fela Kuti, was caught on camera slapping around and assaulting a Police officer. The offence? The Police officer bashed his car from behind. What ensued was rage from Seun. “Do you know me?” he ranted as slaps rained heavily on the confused officer. It was a real show of shame.

In his defence, after the case went viral, Seun claimed that the Police officer “tried to kill my family.” The IGP was having none of that and ordered for the arrest of the celebrity. Since the news broke, Nigerians have been for and against Seun. Those who have seen, firsthand, the excesses of the Police, support Seun, while those in support of a civilised and legal approach to things, berate the singer for his thuggish display.

Whichever way we look at it, two wrongs can never make a right. A lot of us came out in mass to participate in the #EndSARS protest against police brutality and other vices. Rather than go violent, we chose to go about things the proper and civil way and that is how things should be done. There is a saying that, “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.” We cannot kick against one vice and applaud another. That is hypocrisy at its peak. If we want good to prevail over evil, then, we must, also, be prepared to show good character. It’s that simple.

I know a lot of Nigerians have had very distasteful ordeals at hands of the Nigerian Police Force, but that does not give any citizen the right to take laws into their hands and mete out punishment as they deem fit, talk more of assaulting and officer, which, on its own, is a crime punishable by law. It is like saying, since thieves go away unpunished, we should start serving jungle justice and burning thieves alive. Is that not madness? How does that make us any different from the baboons and chimpanzees? Even they maintain some level of law and order in the wildlife.

I would have thought that the best thing to do would have been to pull out his phone, record the incident on video, take down the Police officer’s name from the name tag on his uniform and petition the matter to the appropriate authorities. That is called “leading by example.” I least expected the show of shame and thuggery exhibited by Seun Kuti. How about the international disgrace it will have when that video gets to the international press. 

Say what you may of the developed countries, but, you dare not lay a finger on law enforcement. Once, the entire Sinaloa Drug Cartel was rounded up, killed and arrested, for torturing and executing “Kiki,” an officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). That’s how far they go in protecting their officers no matter what.

You could argue that this kind of madness exists in the Kuti family, but I beg to differ. Fela, even at the height of his madness against the military administration, never attacked an officer of the law. He knew better and so should Seun have. Go crazy, criticise, protest, unleash your madness, but do so in the proper manner and channel your grievances in a civic manner that doesn’t undermine democracy or law and order.

This is the umpteenth time a celebrity will openly disregard, threaten or attack law enforcement. This is how patterns develop. When left unchecked, it becomes a culture and more people will follow that tradition. This kind of uncivilised approach against the Nigerian Police must be banished and sufficient punishment must be meted out to the erring parties. The dangers of this is that, if people do not feel that actions like these are wrong and will be punished, it will soon become a merry-go-round.

While lawful punishment must be meted out on officers who flout the law, equal punishment must, also, be handed down to citizens who brutalise, threaten and assault law enforcement agents. After all, what is good for the gees, is good for the gander.