I don't usually do this. The exchanges about Kemi speak so much about us as black people and I think we all should be reminded of this. Here's is a lady who has achieved what no black person, male or female, has EVER done: lead one of the oldest political parties in modern history and serve as a shadow Prime Minister of the UK. That position, among other things, gives her access to exclusively guarded information about one of the leading economies in the world. And to add, she has been in post longer than the last female leader. What do we do in response? We pick her faults and openly wish her to fail. What's wrong with us black people? 

I have repeatedly reminded people who try to denigrate her and will say the same here: encourage your daughters and sons to learn the lessons of Kemi's success. She may not become the PM of the UK. However you cannot take away that she's made a mark in history. She is undoubtedly an inspiration for black young and up and coming. She came back to the UK at 16. She didn't attend a UK ivy league university. She had no godfather that we know of to push her up (compare with Kamala in the US or many of her compatriots back home). Before she turned 50, she is leading the UK Conservative Party. Let's get serious here: that's a great deal to have achieved. Just look around you and see how many Nigerians here in the UK are still struggling within a much longer time frame.

Now, let's look at some of the accusations. They say she's said bad things about her country, Nigeria. Who hasn't? And when did that become a problem? Many of those who say these things have themselves said worse things even on this forum. No, others have said, she should have used her influence to try to change rather than talk about them. Again, I don't know when influence became exclusive of talking. Donald Trump has said far more terrible things about America and built his MAGA movement on that. He got away with it. But oh, I forgot Kemi is black! Besides her achievements, Kemi is leading the Conservative Party at a most difficult time when its rating has seriously diminished and it faces an onslaught from the far right that's increasingly emboldened. That would be hard for anyone to handle. Why then should anyone mock her on that? Those who pick on her deliberately disparage the enormously difficult challenges she is up against. And do you think it would do her any good as leader to present a divided commitment to the country she aims to lead? No, she cannot be helped if she were to play up to Nigeria and her dubious governance record. She has to detach herself and show she mean it that she's undivided in her commitment to the UK and it's core values. In some sense, Nigerians who deride her, including the Vice-President, are doing her the favour she so requires. 

Anyway, the truth in all these is that the issue those diminishing Kemi have is not about what she has said or not said. I think they all must be honest with themselves and admit that theirs is probably an extension of the low complex far too many black people carry about themselves. Fortunately, Kemi has proved the skeptics to be wrong: a black person can indeed do it. Our daughters and sons need more of such inspiration. Let's celebrate Kemi more, please.

Professor Victor Ayeni 

London, United Kingdom