• Says It’s time to stop tribalism, ‘my turn’ syndrome
By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has congratulated Kemi Badenoch on emerging as the leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom.
Obi, who took to his official X handle said the emergence of Badenoch is a great development.
According to him, the development stands as a vivid illustration of the immense potential that resides within the youths of Nigeria.
Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra State, also preached that the emergency of Badenoch, a Nigerian-British politician as the leader of the Conservative, is an indicator for Nigeria to move beyond tribalism.
He emphasized that “It is time to move past outdated traditions of tribalism, religious bias, and the “my turn” syndrome.
He said: “The gratifying news of the election of a Nigerian-born @KemiBadenoch as the leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom cannot come at a better time than now that events in the country are making Nigerians doubt their potential.
“Badenoch’s election is a powerful testament to the global potential of Nigerian and African youth.
“Her success showcases the strength of diversity and underscores the possibilities achievable when competence, capacity, integrity, and inclusivity are prioritized.
“This accomplishment is both inspiring and a wake-up call, highlighting the leadership paradox in Nigeria, where younger leaders with proven competence, capacity, and integrity often remain sidelined in favour of older figures who lack the same drive and qualities that the younger ones bring to the table.
“As we celebrate Kemi’s achievement, let us use it as a catalyst for change within our leadership landscape.
“It is time to move past outdated traditions of tribalism, religious bias, and the “my turn” syndrome and foster an environment that values competence, capacity, integrity, fresh perspectives, and forward-thinking leadership.
“Embracing a new generation of leaders can pave the way for a better future for Nigeria and Africa.
“Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch. A new Nigeria is indeed possible!”
On Saturday, Badenoch shattered a glass ceiling following her historic emergence as the leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party.
In a closely contested election, she emerged victorious against Robert Jenrick in the decisive final round of voting.
Following the victory, Badenoch achieved a historic milestone as the first black woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.
Badenoch’s latest victory comes after she was declared the winner of the North West Essex legislative election on Friday after polling 19,360 votes to defeat her main challenger, Labour’s Issy Waiter, who garnered 16,750 votes in the July 2024 general election of the UK.
Badenoch was born in Wimbledon, London, to Nigerian parents. Her childhood was spent partly in the United States of America and Lagos, Nigeria, respectively. She returned to the United Kingdom at the age of 16.
After studying Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sussex, Badenoch worked as a software engineer at Logica. She went on to work at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group as a systems analyst before working as an associate director at Coutts and later as a director at The Spectator magazine.
Kemi Badenoch joined the Conservative Party in 2005 and since then has been active in Conservative politics.
