Damini Ogulu, the Nigerian singer known as Burna Boy, declared in 2020 that President Bola Tinubu, then national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his associates must pay for the October 20 massacre of #EndSARS protesters. April 2025, Burna Boy confirmed his association with Tinubu and his family.

The #EndSARS protest was a nationwide demonstration against all forms of police brutality which had resulted in illegal arrests, detention, extortion, harassment and deaths of innocent citizens.

While young, unarmed Nigerians protested in Lagos State on October 20, 2020, soldiers opened fire and killed some of them at Lekki Toll Gate, a spot that has now become a symbolic location for the annual remembrance of the lost souls.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Forensic Report Uncovers ‘Conscious Manipulation’ of Lekki Toll Gate Cameras by LCC During #EndSARS Protest

The next day, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, would blame the shooting of the peaceful protesters on “forces beyond my control”.

The governor’s statement, which came off as insensitive, infuriated many Nigerians who hurled vitriol at him and the federal government.

Burna Boy was one of those angry Nigerians who vowed to hold the government and their associates to account.

So, on October 21, 2020, Burna Boy posted a response to Sanwo-Olu’s comment on X: @jidesanwoolu YOU have just showed the world that You are just another one of @AsiwajuTinubu puppets. ‘Forces beyond your control’? YOU are just as GUILTY as TINUBU and BUHARI. And you must ALL pay.

READ ALSO: How an iPhone ‘Saved Life’ of Man Shot by Burna Boy’s Guard at Cubana

The general perception was that, given Burna Boy’s celebrity status, his decision to be on the side of the protesters by publicly telling the government off embodied true activism.

However, recent developments introduced some nuances to this stance on activism.

Burna Boy was spotted in recent video clips on Tuesday hobnobbing with Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Tinubu.

Following the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, some people speculated that Tinubu might have had a hand in the incident. Reports cited claims that he had financial interests in the tollgate, which had stopped generating income due to the prolonged #EndSARS protests.

With the way Burna Boy’s 2020 post condemned Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu as well as former president Muhammadu Buhari, seeing him socialising with the president’s son four years later shocked many Nigerians.

Two video clips circulating on X show the singer in a club with the younger Tinubu. In one of the clips, he is seen introducing David Omoregie, a British rapper and actor professionally known as Dave or Santan Dave, to the president’s son.

The second video shows Burna Boy, Seyi and Michael B. Jordan, an American actor and film producer, dancing and socialising in the club.

READ ALSO: Police Officers Harass, Assault Reporters at Lekki Toll Gate

While reacting to one of the videos, X user @SmaAfc wrote: “You can never see Fela move with kids of corrupt politicians.”

Another X user @lumi_dee6 wrote: “African giant with the people wey him dey criticise.”

Also, Joseph Abalokwu asked, “You guys were really thinking Burna cared about the protest?”

“So he basically uses Nigerians predicament to make money cos what’s the point singing 20 10 20?” Abimbola Aanu (@aanu_bibi) added.