“Nigeria is not ready for that” — Seun Kuti begs

Grammy-nominated Nigerian artiste, Seun Kuti has strongly opposed recent suggestions for the legalization of firearms in Nigeria, insisting that the tendency for civilians to get volatile at the slightest aggression makes for disaster.

In a candid Instagram live session with his fans, the Afrobeat star expressed his firm stance, emphasizing that allowing widespread access to firearms would exacerbate societal issues. Kuti firmly stated, “I don’t believe our society is ripe for us to say we want to put guns in anybody’s hands.”

He raised concerns about the inevitable consequences, particularly the potential for violence between different socioeconomic classes, remarking, “First of all, it just means that rich children would be killing poor children all over the place. That’s what would happen. All you poor children, they will just be shooting you.”

Kuti attributed the push for arms legalization to profit-seeking interests rather than genuine concern for public safety. He asserted that such a move would primarily benefit the arms trade industry while exacerbating existing social inequalities.

Highlighting an alternative approach to ensuring safety, Kuti challenged the political motives behind the calls for arms, stating, “Nigerians don’t need guns to be protected. If the politicians are serious about protecting Nigerians, they can employ enough personnel to secure the country.”