Big Brother Naija star and social media personality, Kiddwaya, has sparked a heated debate online after sharing his controversial opinion on British colonial rule and its long-term impact on Nigeria.
Kiddwaya, in a post shared on X, suggested that Nigeria might have experienced greater development if the British had remained in the country for another 10 to 15 years before granting independence.
The reality TV star’s comment has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media, with some users agreeing with his argument while others strongly disagreed with his assessment of colonialism.
According to Kiddwaya, the continued presence of the British could have provided Nigeria with additional time to develop stronger institutions and infrastructure before taking full control of its affairs.
His position, however, has reopened a longstanding debate about the legacy of British colonial rule in Nigeria and whether the country’s post-independence challenges can be linked, at least partly, to the manner in which the colonial administration transferred power.
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, after decades of colonial administration. Since then, the country has experienced periods of political instability, military rule, economic challenges and struggles with infrastructure and institutional development.
While some Nigerians argue that colonialism left behind systems and infrastructure that contributed to Nigeria’s early development, others maintain that colonial rule was primarily designed to serve British interests and that extending it would not necessarily have guaranteed better outcomes for the country.
Kiddwaya’s comment has therefore triggered a broader conversation about Nigeria’s history, independence and the factors responsible for the country’s present situation.
Some social media users questioned whether an additional 10 to 15 years of British rule would genuinely have transformed Nigeria, while others argued that the country could have benefited from additional preparation before independence.
The debate also highlights continuing disagreements among Nigerians over how much responsibility should be placed on colonial-era policies and how much should be attributed to the decisions and leadership failures that occurred after independence.
As reactions continue to pour in online, Kiddwaya’s remarks have once again brought the question of Nigeria’s colonial history and its lasting influence on the country’s development to the centre of public discussion.
