Tinubu’s my political mentor, he fought for democracy – Seun Kuti

Grammy-nominated afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was his political mentor.

The son of late afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti disclosed this while speaking on his relationship with the president in a recent interview with a media personality, Chude Jideonwo.

He explained that he has a “robust” relationship with the president whom he described as an “uncle”, stressing that he was a mentor to him while growing up.

He recalled that Tinubu was a leading member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought for Nigeria’s democracy after the military annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election assumingly won by Chief MKO Abiola.

Kuti said, “My relationship with President Tinubu on a personal level is very robust. I grew up knowing him as an uncle. He was a very good friend of uncle Beko [Kuti]. He was a political mentor to me growing up as a child.

“Many of the ideas that I understand today, it was these men that taught me as a child growing up. Knowing them fighting for democracy in this country with NADECO, even when he [Tinubu] went on exile… Wale Soyinka, uncle Beko, Asiwaju, these were the men who fought for our democracy.

“During Tinubu’s first term as Governor of Lagos State, I performed at all his rallies. I’ve always been close to him personally. But I don’t have any political relationship with him. And even at that, I don’t think it’s anybody’s business. I’ve not been to his house in years except when I need to see him for national issues.

“So, these things that people say are just to tarnish your image. They make it seem like everybody must be paid for what they’re saying. No, no, no. What’s the truth is the truth. And I say it regardless of fear or favour of anybody.”

He, however, said so far, President Tinubu has not been performing well.