Peter Obi supporters bully Femi Kuti, threaten to burn New Afrika Shrine

Afro-beat maestro, Femi Kuti has revealed how supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate have intimidated and bullied him with a threat to burn down his new Afrika Shrine over his comment that he is not obidient

The New Afrika Shrine is fun spot for afrobeat patrons and open-air entertainment centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

It’s the venue for the annual Felabration, a music festival organised annually in honour of Fela Kuti, the late Afrobeat pioneer. It is one of the music cultural centres in Lagos that is patronised by many Nigerians and foreigners.

French President, Emmanuel Macron visited the shrine in July 2018 during a state visit to Nigeria in company of the then Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and other eminent Nigerians.

Many have criticised the uncouth and thuggish social media behaviour of some of Obi’s supporters whom rivals have described as “toxic”.

Obi on few occasions has disavowed his supporters and issued apology to Nigerians on a number of occasions by dissociating his campaign from the unwholesome online behaviours.

In one of such controversies, Femi Kuti reacted after he was quoted as referring to Obi supporters as zombies.

Through a video he put out on Twitter, the singer revealed that his family was being threatened.

He said some Obi fans had vowed they would burn the Afrika Shrine over political commentary attributed to him.

“I woke up today to insults, abusing me, my family, and my children. They threatened me saying they would burn the shrine because they said I said Peter Obi supporters are Zombies.

“First, what I said was that I was too angry, sad, and depressed to be obedient. How can anybody come up with such a term? I can’t be obedient. Enders, killings. My grandmother was killed and my father’s house burned.

“The oppression of my family. Obedient is sitting when you’re told to sit. I said Obi was friends with Atiku, becoming his vice president. If they had won, they’d be pals by now. I didn’t call Peter Obi supporters Zombies.”

Femi dissociated himself from the political campaign coinage “Obedient”, adding that he maintains neutrality.

“I don’t like the [campaign coinage] Obi-dient. I don’t support Obi, Atiku Abibakar, and Bola Tinubu. I’ve never supported any political party.

“My family is already heartbroken. If Obi wins and things change, we will all jubilate. But who are you to tell me not to have my doubts? Don’t come threatening me saying you’d burn the shrine. Stop that rubbish.

“Stop insulting my family. They said Portable is better than me. I should be happy that the young are more popular. That’s how it should be. Fela was against [MKO] Abiola and [Olusegun] Obasanjo, yet Nigerians voted for them.

“Then you come back to ask me. I made a song and said these political elites are a part of the problem. They’re going to do the same as the soldiers [of the military era]. They’ve had 22 years and are still not doing well.”