Benjamin Kuti, the leader of the Nigerian community in the UK, also known as Oluomo of Daby, has cast doubt on the potential impact of Peter Obi’s recent statements on the forthcoming election in the United Kingdom.

Mr Kuti said that the UK, unlike Nigeria, does not subscribe to the practice of “stomach infrastructure” politics, emphasising the community’s focus on issues of substance and policy.

In an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, Kuti said Obi’s opinion, while notable, does not reflect the sentiments or decisions of the Nigerian community in the UK. 

Anticipation is running high among Nigerians residing in the UK as 30 candidates of Nigerian descent are vying for parliamentary seats in constituencies across the country.

Political analysts and polls suggest that the election could mark a turning point, potentially ushering in a new era as the Labour Party mounts a formidable challenge to unseat the Conservative Party, which has held power for the past fourteen years.

The political landscape has further intensified with the emergence of Reform UK, a right-wing populist party, setting the stage for a closely watched runoff against the Conservatives. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, all eyes are on the evolving dynamics that could reshape the UK’s political future.

Out of 650 seats in Parliament, Nigerians are vying for 30 seats as British voters head to polling stations nationwide to cast their ballots in the 2024 general election.

Recently, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Peter Obi, urged Nigerians in the UK to vote for the Labour Party.

Reacting to Obi’s comment, Kuti said Obi is a private citizen who is entitled to his own opinion, but his comment cannot hold water compared to the opinions of millions of people living in the UK and across the globe.

He said, “Peter Obi has a right to express himself because he lived in the UK for a while and knows how the system works. He is not an elected official, so he has a right to his own opinion just like anyone else.”

He said Obi’s opinion cannot have any effect on who will be the Prime Minister in the UK, not even in the Nigerian community.

“The UK doesn’t engage in stomach infrastructure politics like Nigerian politicians do. Nobody is giving anybody N2,000 to vote for a candidate. So, Peter Obi urging people to vote for the Labour Party doesn’t have any effect on the Nigerian community,” he said.

He said Nigerians in the UK need to come out en masse to vote as part of the UK’s electoral process. The decision that will happen tomorrow, whoever becomes the prime minister, their policy manifesto will affect every one of them.

He said, “There were some political issues in the UK regarding their immigration policies that do not favor migrants at all, so Nigerians in the UK should come out and vote tomorrow or they will have themselves to blame.”

Mr Kuti said Nigerians in the UK have what it takes to occupy the 30th position in Parliament. He stated that there are more Nigerians in the UK who are joining politics.

He said that among the 30 seats for Nigerians, two seats might not be secure as they are from the conservative party and could potentially be unseated.

“I will vote for the Labour Party myself. Of course, I want to see more Nigerians in Parliament coming on board,” he said. “The Labour Party has many Nigerians, and it’s going to be a significant win for Nigerians living in the UK.”

“We are likely to see more new faces who are Nigerians representing us and addressing the issues that concern Nigerians in the UK,” he said.

He further explained that some of the candidates have reached out to the Nigerian community and had conversations regarding their manifestos and what they intend to do for Nigerians living in the UK, from both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, just to enlighten people.

“Eighty percent of our community is voting for the Labour Party, while 2 percent would vote for the Reform Party, whose immigration laws are anti-people,” he said.

He added that whatever decision Nigerians make at the polls is going to affect everyone.

Mr Kuti told SaharaReporters that most people, not only Nigerians, are unhappy with the conservative laws that have a negative impact, especially on Nigerians.

He said that under the Conservative government, there is a lot of crime, particularly in London, and the NHS is not good enough. According to him, generally, the British public is not happy with the Conservative Party.

Mr Kuti said that by Friday morning, they would have Keir Starmer as the new UK Prime Minister.

Speaking about the Conservatives’ immigration law, Mr Kuti said he had never been a fan of the Conservative Party. He expressed belief that some of their immigration laws are difficult to implement.

He noted that the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, is focused solely on immigration policy which is against immigrants.

He said, “There are a lot of immigrants who have come to the UK from all parts of the world, hard-working people paying their taxes to achieve a better life. A poll conducted by the NHS shows the number of people from each country, with about ten thousand four hundred and ninety-six Nigerians currently working in the NHS.”

He said that it shows that all the migrants who have come to the UK are there to make life easier for the British public.

“Under the Conservative Party, much of their asylum policy involves sending people to Rwanda. The Labour Party has stated that all immigration policies of the Conservative Party will be cancelled, meaning no one will be sent to Rwanda,” he said.

He said a lot of things have gone against the immigrants under the Conservative Party, which makes life difficult for the people.

Mr Kuti added that many Nigerians in the UK obtained their papers under Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister for the Labour Party, many years ago without stress or discrimination.

He said the Labour Party is pro-migrant, adding that they seek hard-working migrants who are coming to contribute to the British economy, not those who are coming to be a liability.

He, however, advised Nigerians in the UK to go out and vote on Thursday for the candidate of their choice who will represent their interests.

Mr Kuti urged Nigerians not to sit on the fence and watch, as, at the end of the day, if a wrong candidate emerges, people will have themselves to blame, especially concerning immigration policies by conservative or reform parties.