Afrobeat singer and activist, Seun Kuti, has ignited discussions by asserting that Nigeria’s negative global image is not due to internet fraudsters, commonly known as “yahoo boys.” Instead, Kuti attributes the blame to the nation’s politicians, whose actions have tarnished Nigeria’s reputation more than any group of fraudsters could.
In a recent session with Honest Bunch, captured in a viral clip on X, Kuti emphasized the need for accountability among the political class. He stated that there is a prevalent misconception suggesting that Nigerians are disrespected abroad because of fraudsters, which he believes is misguided.
Kuti argued that the true representatives of a nation are its most prominent figures, namely politicians and the wealthy elite, rather than the downtrodden or desperate individuals. “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 declared.
He insisted that the world judges a country by its best and most visible figures. “If your rich people behave like this, how would the poor among you behave?” he added. Kuti criticized Nigerian leaders for hoarding opportunities and stifling the potential of the youth, noting that while the nation has the capacity to operate its own refineries, politicians have monopolized such opportunities, leaving only the wealthy to succeed in what should be national projects.
“They sit down on all the opportunities, cordon the power, and claim that all of us are lazy youth,” Kuti remarked.
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