Badenoch Controversy:
He who throws stone on a building wants to hear the voice of those inside the building says a sage, by Tunde Abatan
Since the emergence of Mrs Kemi Badenoch, a Nigerian-Born British as the Chairman of the Conservative Party of Britain, various stories, claims and counter claims have emerged out of her statements and comments about the country, Nigeria which she hails from.
These comments have condemned and in some cases commend both her feelings and attitude towards her country.
Her reservations about her country of origin before now are known to her only but came out to the public After her emergence as Chairman of the party and feelibgs towards her attainment from fellow Nigerian-born citizens at home and in the Diaspora. Whatever position she holds is perceived in various ways in view of her new position in the scheme of things especially since Britain is Nigerias colonial master .
Hence, the reactions in various quarters to statements of her feelings-though personal, perhaps run contrary to expectations of her fellow Nigerian-born citizens.
In reply to her claims about the shortcomings of the country especially the security situation in the Islam dominated Northern , Vice President Kashim Shettima angrily asked her to drop her Nigerian name to justify her position. In essence,Shettima wants to cut herself off from the country since she could only relay negative things about the country.
Furthermore ,the controversy over her statements and her responses has brought to the fore what many regard as her undiplomatic statements towards her country of origin. This is Also in relation to the attitude of the government in power. Many Also believe ,the Vice President has gone too far in asking her to erase her name from her roots. To the Vice President and many Others,her statement about Nigeria amounts to a negative perception in the international community.
READ ALSO: Kemi Badenoch defends her comments on Nigeria, responds to Shettima
While the attitude and declaration of the Vice President is not unexpected as someone who swore to defend and uphold the sovereingthy of the country, it should be noted that rather than ask Badenoch to remove her Yoruba name to complete her separation from her country of birth, this implies that she is being compelled to renounce her origin and roots.
Asking Bademoch to renounce her roots is also akin to asking former President Muhammadu Buhari who two years ago publicly declared his passion about his claim to his Niger roots to renounce his Nigerian citizenship.
It is an Open secret that the former President also publicly used Nigerias resources to construct a railway to Niger ,a country inhabited by his cousins and relatives in order for him both to cement the relationship between Nigeria his adopted country and his country of origin which is Niger.
No notable person from the Northern part of the country raised an eye brow on the statement made by President Buhari and the commitment of Nigeria’s funds to develop a neighbouring country.
President Buhari also publicly declared his intention to relocate to Niger after leaving power should any of his former aides run to him if they are called to question over their roles by the government that succeeds him. The statement implies that he is aware of the various infractions some of his aides commited against Nigeria and he did nothing to bring them to Book.
Nobody asked him-Buhari, to vacate his office for using Nigeria’s resources to develop another country.
United states President- elect, Donald Trump origin from Germany has never been questioned or used as a point to disqualify him both as the sitting President of the United states or to seek re-election last month.
Two wrongs they say does not make a right but the emotions and vituperations that has been generated by public discussions on the Badenoch statement and issues raised has once again brought into fore the undeniable diversity of Nigeria and the need to recognise, appreciate and continually work towards using it as a building block to unite the country along acceptable lines by all the different nationalities that makes the country.
READ ALSO: The Fuss about Kemi Badenoch by Azu Ishiekwene
In the same vein, the response of Badenoch to the demand of the Vice President asking her to remove her Nigerian Yoruba name has further opened the mindset of not only the Conservative party chairman but many other diaspora Nigerians. By saying that she has allegiance to the Yoruba which constitutes one of the three dominant ethnic groups in the country more than Nigeria has confirmed that to many,the country remains a mere geographical expression to use late sage Obafemi Awolowos Words.
This has further reopened the issue of the Nigerian question.
Since she has repeatedly expressed her belief and natural attachment to the Yoruba southwest part of the country she is saying in effect that the nation is better organised along regional lines as contained in the constitution on which the British granted independence Nigeria in 1960.
There is no doubt that Bademoch has expressed the view of many in the Diaspora about the government and the situation of things in the country especially the insecurity and ethno- religious crisis in the North and its implication for the country as a whole.
She is obviously acting in like manner because of her position and the possibility of her becoming a Prime minister and head of government of the country.
Should this happen, it means that the government headed by Badenoch may be favourably disposed to and work towards the return of the country to regional system and give support to the southern regions of the country to achieve this. This position if taken is a bold departure to the decades old alkegiance between succesive British governments to the Northern oligarch and its birth right mentality.
It is an open secret that the conservative North of Nigeria is against returning the country to regional system as being clamoured for by the Southern part of the country.
The Northern part of the country since the takeover by the military in 1966 has reaped more in terms of men in leadership position and the creation of more states though the region in spite of the material resources mobilised by its leaders has remain the poverty capital of the world .
The country has experienced the continuation of same practise as contained in the various constitution which though federal in principle but remains unitary in operation.
Though it is not clear whether the position of vice president Shetimma is the samething as that of the federal government, the fact of his northern origin gives credence to him speaking for the region.
What would a Bademoch headship of the British portend for Nigeria in view of her position which is at variance with the hegemonic hold on the country by the Northern ruling political elite?.
However, the raging controversy has come at the right time when the country is about to reposition itself both in terms of the new fiscal policies, tax regime and the posibility of the country returning to fiscal federalism as promised by President Bola Tinubu .
He has in words and action portrayed his belief in fiscal federalism which is at variance with the present situation of things since the advent of military rule.
Rather than a continuation of emotions and sentiments concerning the Badenoch issue, it is better for the national assembly to seize the intiative and Works towards reverting the country to the independnece constitution which from comments by cross section of the country is much more preferable.
The declaration by Badeoch is a confirmation of the saying that one king will rule that will not know Joseph.
The age- long British Nigeria relationship will not continue in the spirit of the feudalistic arrangement which saw the British conceeding power to the hegemonic North and the later using the military to maintain its strangle hold since 1960 will not continue forever.
Time for change is now.
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