Senator and founder of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, says Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti is better known than any president in the history of Nigeria.
The senator described the late king of Afrobeat as the “greatest leader to come out of Africa”.
Murray-Bruce made the comments when France President, Emmanuel Macron, paid a visit to the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos on Tuesday.
In a chat with TheCable published on Thursday, the senator representing Bayelsa East said, “Fela is an icon, the greatest in Africa. Fela is a tourist attraction. More people know Fela than the name of any president in the history of Nigeria. Fela is Mr. Tourism”.
The 62-year-old called on all Nigerian governments both past and present to publicly apologise to the Kuti family and also compensate them with cash for the “atrocities” committed against Fela.
“It has to be done because they need to be forgiven for the atrocities they committed,” he said.
“They burnt his house, killed his mother, broke his jaw, threw him in prison. Yes, they need to apologise. They have to acknowledge and then apologise.
“I want them to apologise, then write a cheque to Femi for killing his mother, breaking Fela’s jaw, locking him out.”
Murray-Bruce added that Nigeria is a nation is “lucky” to have an “incredibly popular, great French leader” like Macron visit the New Afrika Shrine.
“All leaders should be like him because why should it take Macron to recognise Fela. Why can’t our leaders recognise Fela?” the senator asked.
