‘Singing Colonial Song In UK Parliament Won’t Change Your Identity’

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has indirectly criticized the new leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent remarks about Nigeria and her stance on British colonialism.

Sani commented that a Nigerian singing a colonial song in the UK parliament cannot escape their true heritage, saying, “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.”

Referencing the continued reminders African Americans face about their roots in Africa, Sani added that no performance in a foreign parliament could alter a Nigerian’s true identity.

“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,” Sani posted on X.

The Nigerian-born lawmaker, Kemi Badenoch has previously defended British colonialism while debating the UK’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, sparking criticism for her remarks.

In a video that gained traction in October, Badenoch, who previously served as the UK’s business and trade minister, stated that countries often point to British colonialism as the cause of their slow socio-economic growth.

Recall, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that her office had tried to reach out to Badenoch but received no reply.

Speaking to Channels Television, Dabiri-Erewa said, “It depends on whether she embraces her Nigerian identity. We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response. We don’t force anyone to acknowledge being Nigerian.”