Why We Want Fela Immortalised —Lawmakers

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have explained that their call for the late Afro beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to be immortalised is born out of the fact that his contributions can hardly be surpassed by living freedom fighters.

They also said among his contemporaries, he combined the fight for injustice and maladministration with music in a unique way that even those who hated him loved his struggles.

A lawmaker, Hon. Olusegun Olulade, had asked his colleagues, to as a matter of urgency, call on President Goodluck Jonathan to give Fela national recognition and award for the role he played to see that the country moved from military to civilian rule. They also called on the Lagos State government to immortalise him by honouring him with a monument at a strategic location in the state.

Hon. Olulade said Fela was a patriotic detribalised Nigerian, whose struggles went beyond the shores of the country.

He regretted that in spite of his contribution to the country’s development, he has not been recognised by any of the two governments since his demise.

Hon. Mudashiru Obasa representing Agege Constituency 1 said the late musician should be honoured for being a legend. “It cannot be doubted that he was a pan-African that could only be equated with the late Gani Fawehinmi, but while Gani fought using the rule of law, Fela fought with music,” he said.

Obasa described the late Fela as a seer who had seen much of what is currently happening in the country.

He added that though, he was originally from Ogun State, the fact that he lived and died in Lagos is enough for the state government to immortalise him.

Hon. Suntan Adeniji-Adele, also lamented that the musician was not recognised by the government of his country even when he is rated as the number one music star in South Africa.

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho described the call for his immortalisation as long overdue. “He was very original, he sang about the past, present and future. He also sang about women liberation and the need for education,” she said adding that while growing up, she used to sing some of his songs, but later realised what the man stood for later in life.

“Fela dared where most people could not go. His mother was a great woman that had different kinds of children. Imagine having three male children who, though different in their approach to life, all fought to save the lives of people,” Hon. Tejuosho said.

She was corroborated by Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who explained that Fela told those in authority the bitter truth. According to him, the late musician was an instrument of hope for the downtrodden.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo, who recalled the times of the musician, said though Fela had travelled to the UK to study medicine, he ended up being a musician because he knew what he wanted out of life.

“When he travelled to Ghana and sang ‘Zombie,’ a riot erupted and he was banned from entering the country.

Omisore said the musician, while alive sang ‘Suffering and Smiling’ and about men of God who lived larger than life. “Today, we see pastors who ride on jets while those who pay the tithes are suffering.

Hon. Omotayo Oduntan called him a philanthropist and disciplinarian. She, however, lamented that just as the late MKO Abiola was not recognised, so was Fela.

Other lawmakers who extolled his virtues included the House Deputy Majority Leader, Lola Akande, Avoseh Hodewu Suru, Lanre Ogunyemi and Sanai Agunbiade who lamented that those who did not achieve as much as he did had been given awards.

Speaker Adeyemi Ikufoiji then called on the two governments on behalf of his colleagues to immediately ensure that Fela is honoured.

—Eromosele Ebhomele & Tosin Areo