Despite all the ‘sins’ Britain committed during the colonial and slave trade era, the emergence of Rishi Sunak as its Prime Minister on October 25, 2022, shows how the country has evolved over the years as a multicultural society. Sunak, who became the first person of colour to be appointed the Prime Minister, replaced Ms Liz Truss, who resigned just after about six weeks in office. This, apparently, may go a long way to assuage the sad memories and ill-feelings the actions of the colonial era evoke in the victims.
Sunak is the son of Indian parents who migrated to the UK from East Africa. Born in Southampton in 1980, he attended Winchester College and studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. He studied for his MBA at Stanford University in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar. He was the Chancellor of Exchequer from February 13, 2020 to July 5, 2022; Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 2019 to February 2020; and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from January 2018 to July 2019. In May 2015, he was elected a Conservative MP for Richmond in north Yorkshire. Before venturing into politics, Sunak worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs and at two hedge funds. He is said to be one of the richest MPs. His wife, Akshata Murty, is the daughter of an Indian billionaire, Narayana Murthy. They have two daughters.
No doubt, the task ahead for the new Prime Minister is enormous. He has to contend with the high cost of living and energy crisis which his country is currently battling with. The rate of inflation is about 10.1 per cent, the first in 40 years. What worries Britons more is the surge in food and energy prices which was precipitated by the Russian/Ukrainian war, COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. But we believe he is equal to the task. And this is where leadership comes in. He will succeed if he has the right people and the right policies.
We urge him to relate well with Britons who are also going through interesting times politically. Having held power for 12 years now, the Conservative Party appears to be gradually kicking itself out of power. The leadership turmoil is disturbing. The current Parliament, which first met on December 17, 2019, is due for dissolution on December 17, 2024, which is when its term will elapse. A general election is supposed to take place in January 2025. Only the King, at the request of the Prime Minister, can dissolve the parliament before the due date for election. But it is doubtful if Sunak will call for such dissolution.
It is worrisome that in one year alone, the UK has produced three Prime Ministers. Boris Johnson had his challenges which forced him to officially tender his resignation as Prime Minister to the late Queen Elizabeth II on September 6, 2022 after a three-year scandalous tenure. Liz Truss, who took over from Johnson as the 56th Prime Minister, appeared overwhelmed by the economic crisis that has enveloped the country. She too was forced to step aside. For us here in Nigeria, there are lessons to learn from the events in Britain, especially Sunak’s emergence as the Prime Minister.
In the run-up to the 2019 presidential election, some people tried to stop former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from contesting due to his allegedly being a Cameroonian. Ironically, Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was quoted to have said last month that what the average northerner needs is someone who is from the North and not a Yoruba candidate or Igbo candidate. Some other candidates are campaigning on the pedestal of ethnicity and religion. We are a people of the same race, but the discrimination and mutual suspicion among the different ethnic groups in the country call for serious introspection. If the people of Britain could overlook colour, origin, religion and so on, why can’t we do the same in Nigeria?
As we approach the 2023 general election, the onus is on us to cast away primordial sentiments which have limited our growth as a nation. Our focus should be on how to elect men and women of ideas who can salvage the country, which is in serious crisis at the moment. We commend the British lawmakers for going through the process of selecting a successor to Truss. All they looked out for in making their choice is someone who has the character and capability to deliver the country from the problems besetting it currently.
We congratulate Sunak and urge him to do his best to turn things around for the UK. The verdict of history awaits him. He has promised a new age of optimism. He must do well to deliver on his promises despite all odds and bitter criticisms which will surely come. We wish him all the best.