There are so many interesting conversations around Kemi Bardenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party.
She has shared her thoughts, experiences and views about Nigeria. She has the right to do so.
I want to stop for a moment and separate her from the Kemi that attended ISL.
I want to see her as the most politically powerful Black woman in the UK at the moment. That is a unique position and every sentence coming from whoever is holding that position matters a lot.
This can spark either of two things
- Indigination and name calling as well as the determination to remind her of roots which she appears not to be too enamored with.
- It can take us into a journey of self reflection.
I will explain this
I love Nigeria
I love it because it is the place of my birth.
It is a place that holds several memories for me. Some are good, some not so good.
I have over the years made a conscious decision to seek for ways to make Nigeria a better place.
Have I been disappointed
Yes…numerous times
Have I given up on Nigeria…several times.
Do i know few of the numerous challenges
Yes, I see them, feel them, breathe them..even live them.
No light
No water
Bad roads
Millions of out school children
Poor medical system
Poverty
Unfair judicial system
I can go on and on
Choosing to stay patriotic about Nigeria is a choice. You either love her or reject her
When the leader of the opposition party of a country closely associated with Nigeria shares a negative opinion about my Nation, it is my place to reflect and ask a question. “Is this justifiable or malicious” .
It can lead to a determination to change the narrative about us.
Kemi Badenoch, the Shadow prime minister of UK has said her own, its time to forget about the Kemi of ISL and the daughter of Dr Adegoke and see her as a political personnae who has chosen to bring out the rot in our polity.
We have a choice…Let us REFORM and ensure that no political leader of any country will be able to put us or any of our Institutions down again or speak disparagingly about us.
Let us arise and prove them wrong…Yes we can.
Yinka Ogunde
Transformational leader and Coach
