VIDEO: It's ‘Scam’ For Former British Colonies To Blame Their Underdevelopment On Colonialism —Nigerian-Born UK Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch


November 7, 2024
News

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.

The Nigerian-born British lawmaker who once served as UK business and trade minister said this in a viral video in October.

In a recent video, the new UK Conservative Party leader said many countries claim the British Empire is responsible for their lack of socio-economic growth, but that the UK government should be celebrated for ending slave trade and not be seen as the bane of global development as propagated by some former British colonies.

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.

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“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.”

Similarly, Kemi Badenoch made headlines in April for her bold statement that the UK's wealth and economic success shouldn't be attributed solely to its colonial history or racial privilege. This statement sparked controversy, adding to the list of times Badenoch has been at the centre of public debate.

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.

At a recent summit in Samoa, former British colonies renewed their call for slavery reparations from the UK government.

King Charles III acknowledged the painful legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, stating that it continues to resonate today. However, he avoided discussing financial reparations, instead encouraging leaders to focus on understanding history to inform future choices and address existing inequalities.

Earlier this week, the Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, revealed that her office reached out to Kemi Badenoch, but received no response.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa said Badenoch’s action shows that she is not willing to identify herself as a person of Nigerian lineage.

She stated that Nigeria would not compel the British politician to embrace her Nigerian roots if she chooses not to.

“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,” she explained.

SaharaReporters

Macphenson:
This foolish yoruba woman.

SmartPolician:
The most disgusting argument I have heard is that the white man made Nigeria a mess. For instance, after the likes of Akpabio has looted every kobo budgeted for the NDDC, he will tell you that the white man doesn't want Africa to make progress! Nobody asks them what they did when they had the opportunity to fix things.

tanigororo:
See Gaslighting!
Only a Bastard will ever point 👉 to his fathers house with disrespect

VeeVeeMyLuv:

She is right

Your leaders are stealing Nigeria blind

This got to stop

VeeVeeMyLuv:

She is right

Your leaders are stealing Nigeria blind

This got to stop

VeeVeeMyLuv:
She is right Your leaders are stealing Nigeria blind
This got to stop

tanigororo:
See Reasoning, Can you please link it to the unsolicited colonisation we were colonized by the colonial masters please.

Kobojunkie:
Colonialism was not a crime; civilization was built on just that. Empires colonized and used the resources of the colonies to build themselves. The Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Germans, Russians, and even Americans did it. Even Russia and China are still at it. So?

tanigororo:
See Reasoning of an enslaved mind. I'll implore you to watch this video

Kobojunkie:
Imagine learning that Nigerian government supposedly spent over $78 Billion between 2005 and 2021 on fuel subsidy payments. And then another $10 billion in 2022 alone for the same. 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥 And when you say to question those involved, you are told by some Nigerians that the white man is somehow you blame. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

Kobojunkie:
Stop being foolish by half!

Why the insult?

Colonialism has been around for 1000s of years; most every empire that you can speak of is built on it. For you to assume that a video on how colonialism has impacted Africa somehow makes the colonization of Africa different from all the other examples through time instead reveals how bent your mind has been by those you give your ears to.

tanigororo:
■ Nobody is denying our corruption problems on ground, let the colonial masters stop shying away from the economy damages they subjected the colonies they looted to. Accountability is the point

tanigororo:
Why the insult?

Drawing on nearly two centuries of detailed data on tax and trade, Patnaik calculated that Britain [stole] a total of nearly $45 trillion from India during the period 1765 to 1938. It's a staggering sum.
Read more @ https://www.cadtm.org/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=16972#:~:text

panafrican:
Drawing on nearly two centuries of detailed data on tax and trade, Patnaik calculated that Britain [stole] a total of nearly $45 trillion from India during the period 1765 to 1938. It's a staggering sum.
Read more @ https://www.cadtm.org/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=16972#:~:text

Kobojunkie:
What insult? Telling you to stop being foolish by half is not an insult but explaining that foolishness in looking at this is never the way to go. Open your eyes to see beyond your Nigerian situation. Almost every single country in this world was colonized at one point or the other. And most of them have moved on from that past of theirs even going as far as to celebrate it in some cases. For you to suggest that Nigeria's particular case should be regarded differently is... honest... nonsense!

tanigororo:
■ Using such keyword in a discussion is rude, and insulting. I'll prefer we show some respect in presenting our facts.

Kobojunkie:
I am afraid I prefer to call a spade a spade no matter who it is I am chatting with.

Shehu Sani Reacts To Kemi Badenoch’s Controversial Colonialism Comments, Says Nigerian-Born UK Conservative Party Leader's 'Britishness' Will Be Challenged One Day


November 8, 2024
News

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.”

SaharaReporters

tanigororo:

Will you talk to your father like that?