I was in London when Kemi Badenoch, a British politician of Nigerian extraction was running against a white man called Robert Jenrick in a bid to become leader of the British Conservative party.

At the same time and on the other side of the Atlantic, Kamala Harris, an American politician of Indian and Jamaican extraction, was running against a white man called Donald Trump in a bid to become the next President of the United States.

I have always been a great fan of Ms Harris because I like her style (especially her cool trouser suits!) and share most of her convictions.

But I’ve never warmed to Ms Badenoch because even though she sometimes talks sense, I don’t like the way she presents herself and think that some of her views are ridiculous.

However, I prayed that both of these black Amazons would win their contests because I reckon that the black race is uplifted whenever any black person who isn’t a crook, psychopath or moron triumphs, especially in white-dominated countries with racist track records.

In other words, even if I don’t agree with everything a black (or brown for that matter) person says or does, I am glad whenever an ethnic minority individual succeeds in the Western World.

This is why I kinda supported Rishi Sunak, Kemi’s predecessor, why I was happy when Kemi won her race on November 2  and why I shed bitter tears when Kamala failed to trounce Trump a few days later.

But, much to my surprise, while most black folks joined me in fervently cheering Kamala on and shared my profound sadness about her defeat, most black folks in the UK and Nigeria either displayed no interest in Kemi’s victory or expressed regret when she won.

I was so taken aback by this widespread refusal to rejoice for Kemi that I set out to find out why she is receiving such scant support from her brethren. I asked almost every black person I’ve spoken to this month; and the answers I got were pretty straightforward.

Firstly, Kemi is widely regarded as a “coconut” – as someone who may be dark on the outside but is white on the inside.

And this objection to Kemi isn’t just about fellow blacks feeling that she is culturally out of sync with most Nigerians and Diasporan Africans. It’s about a belief that she is a cynical OR self-hating traitor who either genuinely dislikes her race or sucks up to influential whites who do not have our best interests at heart because she wants to gain “house nigger” benefits from them.

And Kemi certainly doesn’t help herself by making ridiculous statements like her recent (and frankly insane!) claim that colonialism and slavery did not contribute to Britain’s prosperity.

How can she possibly justify this statement about a nation that grew rich on the back of free labour coerced from millions of slaves and natural resources stolen from numerous colonies?

Another thing that really annoys her detractors is her refusal to identify with Nigeria. She has said that she fled from Nigeria and wants nothing to do with it; and Nigerian Government officials who have tried to congratulate her have said that she snubbed them.

Well, I can understand her anger about this country. Even though both of Kemi’s parents were professionals when she was growing up, Nigeria rarely displays real respect for honest, hard-working professionals.

This is a place in which it is exceedingly difficult to thrive on a normal salary. This is a place in which security challenges abound, inflation is rampant and basic amenities like electricity are scarce.

So I really don’t blame her if her memories of Nigeria are not positive; and I would urge those who criticise her for not viewing her motherland through rose-tinted spectacles to quit their delusional patriotism and remember that some of us have high standards and do not feel lucky to live in a badly governed country.

Still, Kemi should not throw the baby out with the bathwater and should try to adopt a more gracious attitude towards the land of her ancestors.

Rishi and Kamala also come from deeply flawed developing countries, but have never gone out of their way to speak ill of their origins.

One can only hope that Kemi will eventually see the error of her ways. After all, Nigeria has a good side and whites tend to respect you more, deep down, if you know where you are coming from and refuse to kow-tow to their baser racist instincts!

And wouldn’t it be nice if she could come home and be pleasant and receive a rapturous welcome from Nigerians who are thrilled that their girl has done good?!

TAX RUBBISH

President Tinubu has 

transmitted tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration. Someone sent me this description of it:

The New Tax Bill marks a major reform in Nigeria’s tax system, offering a comprehensive, unified, and modern framework for taxation. By broadening the tax base, simplifying compliance, and recognising emerging sectors such as the digital economy, it positions Nigeria to enhance revenue generation while promoting fairness and equity. As the Bill takes effect from 2025, it is expected to streamline tax administration, support business growth, and encourage compliance, all while fostering a tax system that is responsive to the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.

I have never heard such nonsense in my life!

No Nigerian government has ever adequately accounted for the billions of petrodollars that have flowed from the Niger Delta.

We all know that most of this cash has been looted…and that very little of it has been spent on infrastructure, education, healthcare, etc.

The guys who run the show are feeding fat on oil money and leaving the rest of us to struggle to survive and thrive.

Why on earth should we have to pay tax as well?