Politicians, Not Yahoo Boys, Are Why Nigeria Is Disrespected Abroad -Seun Kuti

Afrobeat singer and activist, Seun Kuti, has stirred conversations once again after declaring that Nigeria’s poor global image is not the fault of internet fraudsters.

These fraudsters are popularly called “yahoo boys,” but according to Kuti, the real reason behind Nigeria’s reputation issues lies elsewhere.

According to him, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the nation’s politicians, whose conduct and actions have soiled Nigeria’s reputation more than any group of fraudsters could.

In a session with Honest Bunch, captured in a short clip that is making waves on X,Seun Kuti reiterated these points and highlighted the need for accountability among the political class, with a full episode set to release on Monday.

He added that there is a false narrative everywhere suggesting that Nigerians are disrespected abroad because of fraudsters.

He argued that this perception is misplaced because the true representatives of a nation are its most prominent people the politicians and the wealthy elite not the downtrodden or the desperate.

“Our politicians are the reason why foreigners don’t respect Nigerians, not yahoo boys. Yahoo boys are not the people spoiling the image of our country, our politicians are,” Kuti said.

He insisted that the world does not judge a country by its worst citizens but by its best and most visible figures.

“If your rich people behave like this, how would the poor among you behave?” he added.

For him, the conduct of Nigerian leaders has set a poor standard, leaving ordinary citizens to suffer the consequences of global disrespect.

Kuti further criticized the ruling class for hoarding opportunities and deliberately stifling the potential of Nigerian youths.

He noted that while the nation has the capacity to run its own refineries, politicians have sat on such opportunities, allowing only individuals with personal wealth to achieve what should have been national projects.

“They sit down on all the opportunities, cordon the power, and claim that all of us are lazy youth,” he added.

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