Former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, has called on Nigerians to stop fixating on the recent comments made by Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, and instead direct their attention to the more pressing issues affecting the country.
Akande made these remarks during his segment on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Sunday, responding to the uproar sparked by Badenoch’s controversial comments.
Badenoch, who was born in London and spent part of her childhood in Nigeria, recently stated that she did not want the United Kingdom to mirror the situation in Nigeria.
Her comments quickly stirred outrage among Nigerians, many of whom took offense at her remarks.
Akande’s Call for National Focus
Akande, however, urged Nigerians to move beyond the controversy surrounding Badenoch’s comments, emphasizing the need to focus on the country’s internal challenges.
“Our obsession with Mrs. Badenoch’s comments is entirely diversionary,” Akande said. “Instead of focusing on her, we should be attacking our real problems. Who cares what she thinks? The bigger issue is the state of our country — we should be putting pressure on our leaders to solve fundamental problems like fixing the national power grid.”
Akande’s message was clear: the nation’s resources and energies should be directed towards solving problems like the ongoing power crisis, which has long plagued Nigeria’s development.
Badenoch’s Remarks and Public Backlash
Badenoch’s remarks were made in the context of discussing the United Kingdom’s future and her desire to ensure that the country does not fall into the same problems that have hindered Nigeria’s growth. She expressed concerns over political instability, corruption, and a lack of proper governance, drawing a comparison to Nigeria’s struggles.
Her comments were immediately met with criticism from Nigerian social media users, political leaders, and commentators. Many felt that her remarks were insensitive and portrayed Nigeria in an unfair light, especially coming from a British politician of Nigerian descent.
The backlash reached such a level that some Nigerians even questioned her loyalty to the country of her roots, while others expressed disappointment that she would make such a statement about her homeland.
Akande Urges Nigerians to Focus on Domestic Issues
Rather than engaging in a prolonged debate over Badenoch’s words, Akande believes Nigerians should concentrate on more urgent matters, including the economic, infrastructural, and social problems plaguing the nation. He emphasized the importance of holding Nigerian leaders accountable for their actions and demanding results on critical issues like electricity, healthcare, and security.
“We are facing challenges with power supply, roads, and security,” Akande said. “These are the real issues we should be tackling. Let’s not be distracted by every comment made by foreign leaders. Our focus must be on solving the problems within our own borders.”
Support for Supreme Court Ruling on Anti-Corruption Efforts
Akande also used the platform to commend the Nigerian Supreme Court for its recent decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 19 state governments. The lawsuit sought to challenge the constitutionality of key anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The Supreme Court panel, which consisted of seven judges, unanimously dismissed the case, labeling it “selfish” and a blatant attempt to undermine Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
Akande described the ruling as a “comforting rebuke” against efforts to weaken Nigeria’s fight against corruption, expressing hope that the decision marked a positive turn in the country’s struggle against political and financial misconduct.
“This ruling is a reminder that while much has gone wrong in our country, redemption is not impossible if we remain steadfast in our fight against corruption,” Akande said. “We need to support the agencies that work to bring accountability to our leaders and hold them to the highest standards.”
Distractions from Real Issues
Akande’s statements come at a time when Nigerians are facing numerous challenges, including a struggling economy, frequent power outages, rising insecurity, and a political landscape marked by uncertainty. In this context, Akande’s call to focus on domestic issues rather than foreign comments appears to resonate with many citizens who feel that their leaders should prioritize solutions over distractions.
While Badenoch’s comments sparked significant debate, many Nigerians have agreed with Akande’s call to focus on tangible solutions rather than engaging in debates over the views of foreign politicians.
