By Kayode Emola
She was the last person to enter the race to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative & Unionist Party leader in the UK, but alas she was the last person standing. As she takes on her new role as His Majesty loyal opposition leader, eyes will be on this young Yoruba girl who grew up on the streets of Lagos and what she has to offer.
A little over 100 years ago, it would have been unimaginable that a woman could even be allowed to vote let alone lead any major political party in the UK. However, today, a woman of Yoruba heritage is not only leading one of the oldest political parties in the UK but His Mmajesty’s opposition party.
While many Yoruba may be quick to congratulate Kemi, I believe it is time that those around her educate her on the dangers her Yoruba homeland is facing. Since colonialisation, Yorubaland has never remained the same in all aspects of developmental growth. We have fared even far worse since independence in 1960 and the return to democracy in 1999 than any living memory.
The story of our people in Yorubaland is nothing to write home about as the Nigerian economy continues to suffer from hyperinflation. Whilst Kemi’s role as an opposition leader may not give her the needed power to do whatever she wants; it is time for her to recognise that she is now in a strong position of influence. That influence must be used to advance the cause of Britain and her native Yoruba homeland.
As His Majesty’s loyal opposition leader, I will implore her to use her position to fight the injustices suffered by many ethnic minorities across Britain and around the world. She is in a strong position like the Biblical Esther who used her position in Babylon to influence the King for her people.
Kemi must recognise that any river that forgets its source will eventually dry up one day. The Yoruba heritage has a way of replenishing knowledge to those that seek it diligently and I will implore Kemi not to shy away from her roots.
The focus now for the opposition leader is to rebuild the conservative party to wrestle power from the Labour Party in 2029 or earlier if luck were to run out for Sir Keir Starmer.
Kemi has shown herself to be a talented young woman who is able to break any glass ceiling and I pray by God’s grace that she will succeed in her new role and surpass expectations. She must never be complacent with this new found love she has earned from the conservative party. She must repay that trust with loyalty and hard work and the least we can do as her fellow Yoruba people or admirer is to pray for her to succeed.
I know Kemi has not been vocal regarding the emancipation of her Yoruba people from the shackles of Nigeria. She must realise that just like Mordecai told Esther to do something to raise an alarm about the existential threat of the Jews, Kemi must be ready to raise an alarm about the existential threat the Yoruba people face in Nigeria.
Nigeria since independence, has slowly degenerated into a failed state and those who wield power in the country are not sincere with the people. In as much as the country has failed to sit down on a round table since 1960 to discuss what future it wants; it is high time the country is divided in peace so that every ethnic nationality can go their way to develop their land as they see fit.
Every Yoruba person at home and abroad must realise that there is only one task ahead of us and it is the task of total liberation. Anything short of this is a complete waste of time and beating about the bush. We need to take the bull by the horn and free our Yoruba nation from the bondage it currently finds itself.
I hope and pray that Kemi who is not just a leader in Yorubaland but in Britain where all our problems originated will be a champion of her people. I hope her time in Westminster will bring about positive change to the lives of those that she represents both here in the UK and in her native Yoruba land.
