Reality television star Tersee Waya, popularly known as Kiddwaya, has ignited an intense online debate after asserting that Nigeria would be far more developed today if British colonial rule had lasted longer.
Nigeria officially gained independence from Great Britain in 1960 following years of intense pressure from local nationalists and political activists. The West African nation later severed its final constitutional ties to the British crown in 1963, transitioning into a fully independent republic. However, Kiddwaya suggests this transition of power may have been premature.
The “Unpopular Opinion” On Nigeria’s Development
Taking to his official account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the former Big Brother Naija housemate shared a provocative perspective on the nation’s historical timeline. He argued that an extra decade or more of colonial administration would have yielded better infrastructural and societal development.
“Unpopular opinion. The British should have stayed in Nigeria for 10/15 more years. You go see better development,” Kiddwaya wrote, sparking immediate discussion across multiple digital platforms.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
The reality star’s commentary elicited a wave of polarized responses, reflecting deep-seated public frustrations regarding Nigeria’s post-independence trajectory. The online reaction fell largely into two camps:
- Supportive of the Sentiment: A segment of commenters agreed with Kiddwaya’s underlying frustration, pointing to decades of systemic corruption, infrastructural decay, and leadership deficits as proof that the country’s ruling class has failed to deliver on the promises of independence.
- Critical of Colonial Legacy: On the other hand, many historians and social commentators strongly rejected his premise. This group argued that British colonial authorities were motivated by economic exploitation and resource extraction rather than genuine nation-building, suggesting that an extended colonial presence would have only resulted in further depletion of Nigeria’s wealth.
As the debate continues to trend, it highlights a recurring and complex discourse among Nigerians concerning the legacy of colonialism, the quality of domestic leadership, and the path forward for the continent’s most populous nation.