‘Kebabbed’ Kemi Badenoch facing her moment of truth

We all know what “Kebab” is and means. It is pieces of meat (lamb or beef) spiced, marinated and roasted on a skewer often with vegetables. It is a Middle Eastern delicacy and probably the best example of it is the Turkish variety.

In its original Arab form, it is written and pronounced as “Kabab”. But in English usage it is spelt as “Kebab” which is pretty much how we have known it all this while.

For long the usage of the word was restricted to the culinary world but in 1989 courtesy of Neil Kinnock (now Lord Kinnock) then Labour Party opposition leader in Britain, the word was uploaded into the lexicon of British politics.

In an interview on the BBC programme World at One sometime in 1989, presenter and anchor, Jim Naughtie (appropriately named it appears) constantly tried to bait Kinnock with penetrating questions on what the Labour party planned to do about the ailing British economy under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The Labour Leader who is famous for his fiery temper in addition to his equally famous erudition and gravitas exploded in a foul mounted rant; ‘’Look Jim’’, Kinnock exploded in his unmistakeable Welsh accent, ‘’ they (the ruling Conservative Party then) are making a God awful mess of the economy. I am not going to be bloody kebabbed talking about what the alternatives are. They have buggered off the economy and they should be on the rack not us!’’

Since that tempestuous introduction of the word into the political stream, Kebab is used to mean continuous political pressure directed at a politically exposed person.

Last week as the opposition British conservative party took stock of the mauling at the council polls in which it lost about 470 council seats some of them considered safe, the pressure has been mounting from within on Kemi Badenoch the leader of the party of Nigerian origin. Those at the extreme fringes of the party voiced out that it was time for a leadership change especially as the Tories (another name for the Conservative Party) face the distinct possibility of being relegated to third in the pecking order of British politics after the ruling Labour Party and the rising UK Reform Party which made gains at the expense of both Labour and the Tories in the council elections.

Looking at these developments, I recalled that someone once described the British Parliament as the hottest political blast furnace in the world. Many political observers will readily agree with that description as the British parliament is well known for its tough, often brutal debates on issues especially during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQ) which is broadcast live.

Since her taking over the leadership of the Tory party following the crushing defeat inflicted on them at the last general elections, Badenoch have been receiving her dose of ‘’kebabbing” from the critical British media, in the House of Commons and from within her party. From the slant of her public statements one gets the impression that she must have been given a brief by the Brahmins of the party to focus on immigration issues. This is not far-fetched because immigration was one of the key drivers for the Brexit vote and the Tory party which championed it during the administration of Prime Minister David Cameron. And the Tory party hoped to harp on it in order to shore up its flagging fortunes in British politics. Kemi Badenoch as a daughter of Nigerian immigrants would make a befitting poster girl for the Tory party’s crusade on immigration.

In going about her brief, Badenoch had made Nigeria the country of her parents as object of unwarranted negative criticism as if the country was one of her Conservative party constituencies in Britain. Even when she was admonished to concentrate more on events in Britain where her party was reeling from its defeat and desperately grasping at straws for survival, she spurned the advice and continued to slag off Nigeria.

As Badenoch left her flanks open she became an object of constant acerbic attack. Sir Keir Stammer the Prime Minister especially had been having a field day tearing into her at PMQ sessions. The most brutal and compelling of such was when Stammer quipped at Badenoch with a crisp remark laced with unmistakeable contempt; ‘’She seemed to have appointed herself as a guardian of western civilisation’’, effectively reminding her subtly that as a black African woman it was not her place to deeply involve herself into what is essentially a matter that concerns only white folks.

The Tory party rank and file are thus coming to the realisation that she will be a liability in the next general elections.

As I wrote in an earlier article on her, the Tories cannot afford to have Badenoch lead them into what is likely to be another defeat this time more humiliating than the previous one which will probably see the Reform Party finishing above them. For Kemi Badenoch the inevitable moment of truth and reality is at hand as members of the Tory Party plot a leadership change that will see her being swept her out.

Is SGF Akume on way out?

Last week the pan Yoruba group Afenifere joined the call by Nigerian individuals and groups on Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Senator George Akume to stepped down from his position in order to allow for unfettered investigations into allegations of corruption by anti-corruption agencies against his aide Torhile Uchi who is a Senior Special Assistant in his office.

In the statement issued by the group’s publicity secretary Dr Bayo Adenuga, the Afenifere called on President Tinubu to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption by suspending the SGF to pave way for independent and unbiased investigation into the case. Adenuga further stated that ‘’An N80 billion naira case uncovered by the EFCC using taxpayers money cannot be allowed to slip away like that’’.

When the news broke out about a couple of months ago about the scandal, the SGF washed his hands off it and called for thorough investigation by the EFCC. But up till now not much has been heard leading to allegations that the SGF had been interfering.

As the son of civil servant I spent part of my formative years in the late 1960s in Yandev, Gboko and I still maintain close contacts with some of my Tiv friends.

As I gathered the man in question is a relation and protégé of the SGF. The SGF had him appointed as Executive Secretary Benue Exam Board by former Governor Ortom when the going was good between them. When things turned sour Uchi was subsequently removed. And when Akume was appointed as SGF he was made SSA. I further gathered that they both live on Padre Pio street, Justice Quarters, an estate for the well-heeled in Makurdi. The house belonging to Uchi which is the most distinct in the quarters is a two storey affair built and furnished at a cost of about 2 billion naira thin 6 months.

Folks at the SGF’s home town of Wanune along the Makurdi-Gboko highway expressed disappointment at the developments. His Mbakor Tiv clansmen have also called on the SGF to emulate the good example of his Uncle J.S Tarka who stepped down as Minister of Transport during the Yakubu Gowon military regime to allow for investigation into allegations of corruption levelled at him then.

Many people believe the SGF should concentrate on his activities at the federal level and allow the Reverend Hycinth Alia administration in Benue state to breathe.

I believe all said, the SGF should hearken to the calls and step down for proper investigations and if he continues to decline such calls President Tinubu should do the needful. A precedent was set when Babachir Lawal was removed to allow for investigations into allegations of about 250 million naira grass cutting contract. In the case of the SGF Akume the alleged sum of 80 billion naira is too huge to be ignored.

Gadu can be reached via [email protected] and 08035355705 (Texts only)