In a post on micro-blogging platform, X, he noted that no matter how much an adopted child loves his new home, one day they will be reminded that they do not belong there, in an obvious reference to Kemi Badenoch.
Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on the conversation around some controversial comments made by Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader in the United Kingdom.
In a post on micro-blogging platform, X, he noted that no matter how much an adopted child loves his new home, one day they will be reminded that they do not belong there, in an obvious reference to Kemi Badenoch.
“No matter how much and how long an adopted Child loves his new home and hates his ancestral home, there will come a day he or she will be reminded by his adopted home that he doesn’t belong there,” Sani said on his X account.
“If African Americans are still reminded that they belong to Africa, a Nigerian singing the colonial song in the UK parliament will not change his or her true identity.”
No matter how much and how long an adopted Child loves his new home and hates his ancestral home,there will come a day he or she will be reminded by his adopted home that he doesn’t belong there.
If African Americans are still reminded that they belong to Africa,a Nigerian…— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) November 8, 2024
The newly elected leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch, once claimed it is fallacious for developing countries to always blame their underdevelopment on British colonialism.
She said: “There are many countries now who want to use guilt to try and exploit the UK. They asked for reparation. I saw it as a trade minister. It is not a culture war.
“I was at the WTO. I won’t name the minister from another country. And he was telling me we need to give up some of the things we were doing because of colonialism and they needed time to develop. These arguments are a scam. Don't fall for it.
“We need to make sure we put this country first, we work well with our neighbours, we work well with other countries. But we have to look after ourselves.
“There are many things the British Empire got wrong but there are many amazing things the British Empire also did. We need to be honest about it and stop pretending that it was all bad. The British Empire ended slavery, the Atlantic slave trade. We need to talk about that more.”
Her comments had led to reactions, especially among Nigerians where she has her ancestral roots.
Many believe that she is throwing her country under the carpet with her comments.
Meanwhile, Kemi is not a stranger to controversies.
In April, she argued that the UK's wealth and economic success shouldn't be attributed solely to its colonial history or racial privilege.
Her assertion led to debates and anger in some quarters.
The lawmaker said: “It worries me when I hear people talk about wealth and success in the UK as being down to colonialism or imperialism or white privilege or whatever.
“It matters, because if people genuinely believe that the UK only grew and developed into an advanced economy because of exploitation and oppression, then the solutions they will devise will make our growth and productivity problem even worse.
“It matters in other countries too, because if developing nations do not understand how the west became rich, they cannot follow in its footsteps.”
“And it matters when, as your trade secretary, I go to the World Trade Organization conference negotiating on the UK’s behalf, and some of my counterparts spend the entire time in meetings talking about colonialism, blame the west for their economic difficulties, and make demands that would make all of us – not just in this country, but around the world – poorer,” she added.
In July 2022, she lambasted Nigerian politicians, saying they use public funds as their private piggy banks and pollute the political system with failure to serve the people.
Badenoch, who was among the eight nominees in the race to succeed Boris Johnson as the British Prime Minister at the time, made the statement during her campaign speech.
Badenoch said she grew up in Nigeria and witnessed first-hand how Nigerian politicians misuse and mismanage public funds, promise heaven on earth only to pollute not only the air but the political system without rendering due service to the people.
She said, “I’m running to be Prime Minister because when you are 42 years old, it is by definition, ambitious. But I am ambitious for our country and for our party.
“I chose to become a conservative MP to serve and I chose this country because here I could be free and I could become what I wanted to be.
“I grew up in Nigeria and I saw first-hand what happens when politicians are in for themselves. When they use public money as their private Piggy banks. When they promise the air but they pollute not only the air but the whole political system with a failure to serve others.
“I saw what socialism means for millions. It is poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain determined to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.”