Today marks the birthday of the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti who was born on the 15th of October 1938. He would have been 82 years old today.
Fela was an advocate of music as a weapon for political change. He sang against the government of the day and was arrested and detained on several occasions.
Today also marks the 8th day of the EndSARS protests in Nigeria. The protests which started on October 8th have been decentralised and fuelled by the will of the people.
Sadly, the protest have not been free of violence. In Ogbomosho there was an incident where 8 people died.
In Abuja, there have been incidences of clashes with the police. Protesters in Lagos were attacked today by some thugs. The protesters were left to their fate by the security detail at the governor’s office in Alausa.
No one knows how the protests will end at this point. At the moment, the government is scrambling to have the number of protesters reduce by acquiescing to ASUU demands and reopening NYSC camps.
We might never know the actual numbers of those who died during the protests. They only thing that is sure is that Fela would be proud.