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| *Seun Kuti |
Following the Federal Government’s announcement of Late Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuit, as one of the faces that would grace the new N5000 note, one of the grand-sons of the deceased, Seun Kuti, has demanded an apology from the FG before using her picture on the proposed note.
Seun made this declaration during an interview session with Channels TV, accusing the FG of killing his grand-mother in February, 1978 by 1,000 unknown soldiers who stormed the Kalakuta Republic.
“She was murdered by the Federal Government, her house was burnt down on that same day, two of her children were brutalised, almost killed on that same day and the family have not received any apology or compensation, most especially justice for such an atrocity.”
Meanwhile, a campaign has started on social networks, Twitter, by an, ‘I Hate the New 5000 Naira Note’ group, against the FG using Late Olufunmilayo’s picture on the N5000 note without a public apology to the Kutis.
The government is yet to respond to Seun’s accusation, likewise has any apology been made.
Other siblings of Seun, Femi and Yeni, have also kept mum, as both seem to be per-occupied with the completion of the ongoing Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Museum.
It would be recalled that in February 1978, when Nigeria was under the Military rule, led by General Olusegun Obasanjo, Late Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti and two of her sons, Doctor Beko Ransome Kuti and musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti , were attacked by 1000 soldiers.
The unknown soldiers brutalised Beko and Fela, vandalized their properties, including Beko’s hospital and allegedly threw Olufunmilayo from the second floor of her house to the ground. She slept into coma and later died from the injuries sustained as a result of the attack in April, same year.
According to history, she was the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car.
