Nigerians Not Welcome In Britain?

[agchristie]

What do you think about President Buhari's comments? Fair or foul?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/12143510/Nigerians-reputation-for-crime-has-made-them-unwelcome-in-Britain-says-countrys-president.html

[Buenchico]

There is definitely a common stereotype of Nigerians in the UK as being associated with crime. (I have to plead guilty to posting on AB plenty of times relating to, say, 'a nice Nigerian prince who has kindly offered me a very large sum for allowing him access to my bank account'; so I've not only acknowledged the stereotype but probably reinforced it as well).

That stereotype isn't only one held by Brits; I've worked with several people from various African countries who've made it extremely clear that they don't want anyone to confuse them with Nigerians because of the stigma they see attached to that nationality.

So perhaps President Buhari is doing little more than acknowledging a stereotype of his compatriots? After all (whether it's true or not) most Brits recognise the stereotype of ourselves as reserved and unemotional, whereas most Germans would recognise a stereotype of their compatriots as being efficient but humourless. (At a more local level, Liverpudlians might recognise that they're often thought of as extremely friendly but also extremely light-fingered!).

So, as I see it, there's no real 'news' in that report, which seems to make no reference at all to the rumours that, while President Buhari is officially in London to attend the Supporting Syria and The Region Conference, he's actually here to seek urgent medical treatment. (Those rumours have gained credence by the fact that he's just handed over power, on a temporary basis, to his vice president by filing an official notice that he's 'on vacation').

[Svejk]

What a racist. Obviously doesn't understand that British colonialism is the cause of all his country's ills.
If there's a large number of his countrymen locked up here, it just shows how biased the police and judiciary are.
We should put on direct flights for their asylum seekers or at the very least hand over a few billion quid to make them more comfy at home. After all, we have unlimited funds and everyone in this country has more than they know what to do with.

[Old_Geezer]

It's about considering them as being welcome abroad rather than specifically Britain. I'm unaware that Nigerians are any less welcome than other nationalities. We're still full in this country and shouldn't be accepting any more incomers save special cases regardless of where they're from.

[retrocop]

He should no his own people better than anyone so who am I to crticise his own assessment. Seems reasonable and he does tend to call a shovel a shovel.
I would say he is being fair.

[retrocop]

*know his own people

[ToraToraTora]

he's bang on.

[ToraToraTora]

419 anyone: http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com/

[anotheoldgit]

Yes who are we to disagree with him, after all he has more experience of his own people than we do.

[agchristie]

Yes, I consider his comments as being honest and fair. Obviously, asylum seekers groups will take umbrage but if Buhari's army can get a firmer grip with Boko Haram then more the better.

TTT - does anyone still fall for these type of scams from Nigeria? People who do must live on another planet?

AOG - not always the case of course that African leaders know their people best. Mr Mugabe for instance!

[anotheoldgit]

/// AOG - not always the case of course that African leaders know their people best. Mr Mugabe for instance! ///

I didn't say 'know their people best' I said "he must have more experience of his own people".

And even the evil Mugabe, must have more experience of his own people".

[agchristie]

AOG - my apologies. They mean different things and you are absolutely correct.

[petal54]

we know a few,seem pleasant enough people

[ToraToraTora]

one born every minute ag, there probably are still some people taken in. I did see a program once about this and there was guy on there who had lost 100s of thousands but still believed it was not a scam. on that site there is an account of how the author actually managed to scam the scammers out of their money.

[Khandro]

'Muhammadu Buhari was born on 17 December 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, to his father Adamu and mother Zulaihat. He is the twenty-third child of his father. Buhari was raised by his mother, after his father died when he was about four years old.' .......
.....probably of exhaustion! Anyway, he didn't study at The London School of Economics, so maybe there's hope for his country.

[agchristie]

TTT - I don't doubt it!

Khandro - well, perhaps the Christian name of the previous President will spring to mind for Buhari - 'Goodluck' ;)