Seun Kuti Slams Dangote Group Over Truck Accident Involving Phyna’s Sister
Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has strongly criticized the Dangote Group following a tragic accident involving one of its trucks, which left Ruth Otabor, sister of reality TV star Phyna, with an amputated leg and struggling for her life.
In a video shared on Instagram, Kuti described the incident as another painful reminder of how powerful business empires in Nigeria often escape accountability, even when citizens suffer grave consequences.
According to him, similar lawsuits abroad would have compelled such companies to pay billions in compensation—a level of responsibility that Nigerian victims rarely experience.
“Nowhere in this world can you operate business the way this man operate business in our country and get away with it,” Kuti said. “Civil lawsuit alone would have buried these companies. They would have paid billions upon billions of dollars in settling.”
He recalled that past accidents involving Dangote trucks have claimed the lives of many Nigerians, yet accountability was routinely shifted, with excuses such as independent licensing and third-party management being used to absolve the conglomerate.
Calling Dangote’s wealth “blood money,” Kuti accused the system of enabling influential businessmen to thrive at the expense of ordinary Nigerians, who are left to bear the brunt of tragedies, skyrocketing food costs, and systemic neglect.
Opinion:
Seun Kuti’s outburst, though harsh in tone, forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: in Nigeria, corporate power too often overshadows human life. When accidents occur, the victims are left with scars—physical, emotional, and financial—while companies carry on unscathed.
Around the world, corporations are held accountable through strict regulation and massive lawsuits that prioritize victims’ welfare. But in Nigeria, the narrative often shifts to excuses and loopholes, shielding the powerful while silencing the weak.
The case of Phyna’s sister isn’t just about one woman’s suffering; it’s about a pattern that continues to repeat. From highways to workplaces, Nigerians frequently pay the ultimate price for negligence, yet compensation and justice remain elusive.
Kuti’s words may sound fiery, but beneath them lies a call for fairness: should any business empire—no matter how big—be allowed to profit endlessly without bearing responsibility for the harm linked to its operations?
For a country striving toward progress, the answer should be clear. Until accountability becomes the norm, tragedies like Ruth Otabor’s will remain grim reminders of a system where lives are too easily discounted.
