Demonizing Nigeria Not Pre-Requisite For Attaining Political Office Abroad – Kaigama
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese,
Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama has said that the demonization of Nigeria should not be a pre-requisite to winning leadership contest in a foreign land.
Kaigama stated this on Thursday while condemning comments by the British Conservative Party’s leader, Kemi Badenoch about Nigeria.
The Archbishop said no self-respecting Nigerian is expected to commend her over such remarks about Nigeria.
“It is worth noting that narratives about Nigeria, or any country, are often influenced by those who control the global conversation. For every criticism, there should be an equal effort to highlight the country’s resilience, cultural richness, and untapped potential.
“A nation’s story is multifaceted, and no single aspect should define it. The demonization of our country should not be a pre-requisite to winning a leadership contest of a political party in a foreign land and if it is, one cannot expect any self-respecting Nigerian to applaud it.
“Kemi is one of us even if she has made mistakes. We will not discard the baby with the bath water. She must, however, take lessons from her predecessors. Rishi Sunak, for example, became prime minister of Britain despite never disparaging India. Kemi can get to the UK government house without taking advantage of Nigeria’s inadequacies. After all, she is achieving greatness because of her Nigerian spirit.
He said the Badenoch who did not stop at criticising Nigeria,went further by seeking to divide the populace on ethnic and religious lines.
According to the Most Revd,”this is a dangerous rhetoric coming from a political leader in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural country.
“Such a narrative might be excusable from a foreigner, but here we have a Nigerian pandering to the sentiments of her adopted country, essentially saying what they want to hear. Her remarks are greatly surprising, especially coming from someone of Nigerian heritage. Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity—over 250 ethnic groups and multiple religions coexisting under one flag. Reducing a region and its people to a single negative label is not just inaccurate but harmful, as it reinforces stereotypes that undermine national unity and mutual understanding.
“Besides, this country already has great men and women, both at home and in foreign lands, who are flying its colors very high. Individuals like Amina J. Mohammed, Akinwumi Adesina, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and even footballer Ademola Lookman have shown the world that Nigeria’s strengths and talents far outweigh its challenges.
“Similarly, great Nigerians in the diaspora, like the aforementioned, exemplify how to critique one’s homeland constructively while celebrating its culture, people, and aspirations. They understand the weight of their words and use them to inspire hope, not despair”.
He further stated that,”Mrs. Badenoch’s comments are a warning to all Nigerians, both domestically and outside. Growth requires constructive criticism, but the way that criticism is presented has a significant impact. Public personalities and leaders must strike a balance between candor and tact, making sure their remarks don’t unintentionally hurt the very people and places they say they care about.
“It would be a much more formidable thing if she had challenged sexism and racism to get to this position but she has not done that, and that is actually what attracted a lot of people to her as a candidate. She forgets that the country that she lives in has a long history of corruption, looting, barbarism and money laundering,” he said.
