From Nov. 2008...Nigeria PM News...OOOOPS..."Kenya's Barack Obama"...

Two Nigerians Tipped As Potential ‘British Obama’
November 25, 2008 15:24

As the wave of Obamamania continues to sweep across the world, reviving troubled markets and inspiring people all over the world to rise up and achieve the supposedly impossible, attention has shifted to Britain, where a huge debate is ongoing about the possibility of a black Prime Minister. Isaac Umunna reports on how two Nigerians are branding and effectively marketing themselves to the British society through their oratory and activities to the extent that they are now rated as having the potential to do in Britain what Kenya’s Barack Obama has done in the USA.

Kenyan-born Barack Obama redrew the political map of the West (and possibly the world) on November 4 when he became the first black person to be elected President of the United States of America. He is set to assume the exalted office on January 4 when the tenures of President George Bush Jnr. comes to an end.

Since Obama’s victory, a debate has been raging in Britain regarding the possibility of a “British Obama” (that is, black Prime Minister of Britain) emerging in the few years. Two Nigerian-born whiz kids are consistently being mentioned as potential “British Obama.” They are rising Labour Party star, Chuka Umunna, and Oxford University Students Union leader, Lewis Iwu, also of the Labour Party.

According to an Evening Standard report, “the clamour for a heavyweight non-white British political contender is reaching fever pitch.” The paper said that as the search for a “transformational figure’ to shak

Last February, another British newspaper, New Statesman, had referred to Umunna in an article entitled “Is there a British Obama?” This was three months after The Independent on Sunday in November 2007 identified Umunna as one of 10 young, gifted and black people in British politics. The paper quoted Simon Woolley, director of lobby group known as Operation Black Vote, as saying that Umunna “may end up as the UK’s Barack Obama.”

An employment lawyer who came to prominence as a political activist and commentator, Umunna has worked with Britain’s arts minister, David Lammy, whom he counts as a “close friend and political associate.” Among his idols are Martin Luther King and Bill Clinton, both of whom are also admired by Obama.

Like Obama, Umunna is also a lawyer, of mixed parentage and very much involved in community work. A leading organiser of the Black Socialist Society, a Labour party affiliated organisation, he sits on the managing committee of Building Futures, a treasury funded scheme for ethnic minorities. He is vice chairman of Labour party in Streatham, South London and sees politics as “the greatest vehicle for effecting positive social change in society.”

In an article last week in the online edition of The Guardian of London, Umunna declared that it was possible for the Obama experience to be replicated in Britain. He wrote of “great progress on ethnic minority representation this last decade with the appointment of the first ever ethnic minority ministers to the Labour government,” adding: “There were none before, there are seven now. The numbers of ethnic minority MPs is projected to rise to 25 in the next parliament, up from nine in 1998.”

According to Umunna, “though we still have a long way to go in turning parliament into a place that looks like Britain of the 2000s rather than the 1950s, the elevation of the junior senator from Illinois (Obama) to the most powerful office on the planet surely makes further strides more, not less, likely.”

He expressed confidence of winning his first major electoral victory next year, saying: “Some ask whether I think my usual name could hinder me when I ask the good people of Streatham to put a cross by my name at the next general election well I need not worry if someone called ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ can make it to the White House.”

Born in London in October 1978, Chuka Harrison Umunna has lived a life described by some analysts as “one long preparation for a future in polices.” Of mixed Nigerian, English and Irish parentage, his father was Ben Osi Umunna, the late businessman and politician who is better remembered as one-time chairman of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu.

Chuka went to school in Streatham and Catford. Having graduated with a 2:1 degree in English and French law from the University of Manchester, he started his legal career as a solicitor at the international law firm, Herbert Smith, in the City of London where he mostly acted for large employers. In 2006, he moved to the Central London law firm, Rochman Landua, where he mainly acts for employees. As an employment lawyer, Umunna often speaks and writes on employment issues. He had “wanted to be a hotshot corporate lawyer,” but “ended up wanting to become an employment lawyer because employment relates to people and their relationships.”

The biggest influence on his early life was the loss of his father at the age of 13. “It had a huge influence on my life. I had to grow up very, very quickly,” he said, adding: “Politically, my father had a big influence on me. He spoke out against the corruption in Nigeria, for better government and got involved in politics in Anambra State. He narrowly missed out on winning the governorship of the state shortly before he died in a car crash. He lost because he refused to bribe anyone and was standing on an anti-corruption ticket.”

Chuka said he has “always been very aware of huge inequalities” having grown up in Lambeth, one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.” This has fired his zeal for politics and community work. He said: “It’s like a drug. You feel involved in your community, meeting people. I always come away from meetings inspired and enthusiastic.

Chuka Umunna is a leading member of the centre left pressure group, Compass, on whose management committee he sits, and often speaks on its behalf in the media.

He has written for several British newspapers such as Financial Times, Tribune, The Voice, The Guardian and New Statesman. He also occasionally appears on television and radio including on The Daily Politics on BBC 2 and Question Time Extra on BBC News 24.

Umunna is the founder and editor of the online political magazine, TMP, which is primarily aimed at left leaning British Black, Asian and minority ethnic people. Contributors to the site include Baroness Prosser, David Lammy MP, Keith Vaz MP and Jon Cruddas MP (Umunna was a campaign aide to Cruddas during his Labour Party Deputy Leadership campaign).

Further to his work as a trustee of two youth charities, the 409 Project in Lambeth, South London, and the Anthony Bourne Foundation, Umunna was quoted in the wake of the numerous killings of teenagers in Britain linked to gangs and violence in urban Britain. His comments that the problems of young people living in the inner cities is linked to the wealth divide and increasing consumerism were widely reported.

He challenged former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie for making anti-Scottish remarks on the BBC’s Question Time television programme in October 2007, on which they were both panelists.

Aside Umunna, Iwu the first black president of Oxford University’s Student Union, is now also considered as a potential future Prime Minister of Britain. He suddenly came into consideration last week when he began advocating the need for Britain to have its own Barack Obama to help remove barriers and give young people a role model they can relate to.

Iwu, who aspires to have a political career of his own, said: “A black British Prime Minister would bridge a huge gap and help young people realise that they can achieve success in public life. It’s not impossible that we could see one in the coming years; there are some really talented kids out there and who knows how many future political stars out there?”

He was replying the head of the Equality Commission, Trevor Phillips, who claims institutionalized racism would not allow the rise of a British Barack Obama.

“My philosophy is that if you are good enough at something then nothing can stop you,” Iwu further stated.

“There are barriers but that should not stop you from going for it. I think Obama is a massively inspirational man and last week gave us all an incredibly symbolic moment. A lot of people were moved by it in Britain, but to have a success like that over here would really give the country a massive boost for generations to come,” he added.

Iwu spoke at the City Hall launch of Debate Mate, a mentoring scheme in which university students helped pupils from inner-city schools develop debating skills and thus refine their verbal intelligence and improve their career prospects.

Of privileged background but with scanty information on his parents, Iwu is a product of St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate, east London, a boy’s comprehensive with one of the best records in London for getting black pupils into university.

He then went on to study politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford the course seen as a vital step on the ladder for many aspiring political leaders.

Past Oxford PPE students include David Cameron, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Ruth Kelly, David Miliband, Williams Hague and James Purnell.

Earlier this year, Iwu became the student union’s first black president after winning 39 per cent of votes against three other candidates.

Like Obama, Iwu was commended for his charismatic public speaking and ability to appeal to a vast electorate during his campaign.

Last year his team won the World Debating Championship in Thailand, beating teams from Cambridge, Yale and Harvard.

He is earmarked by some fellow students as a British Obama in the making, but Iwu said: “I would love to go into politics. My big passion is education so as opportunity to work in education policy would be one of my main reasons for getting into politics.

“I’m a member of the Labour Party but not heavily involved in politics just yet. I’m not thinking too far ahead.”

After growing up in Newham, one of the capital’s most deprived boroughs, Iwu felt a personal obligation to help young Londoners.

“My parents always supported me and we never struggled to make ends meet but many of my friends were not so lucky.

“It’s important that we help give young people options. I would not be where I am today if debating had not come to my school, it turned my life around.”

“Debating allows people who aren’t necessarily the best academically to articulate and express themselves.

“It gives kids something to do after school and helps them engage with what’s going on in the world around them.

“Obviously there has been a series of high profile deaths relating to young Afro-Caribbean boys, but let’s celebrate the achievement of people from the community who are doing well; the heroes of these communities are everywhere, from doctors, lawyers, athletes and more.”

But the world may have to wait for decades to see the emergency of a “British Obama” if that role is to be played by Umunna or Iwu, as both are still far younger than the average age for prime ministership.

While Umunna is only 30, Iwu is just 22. That means that Umunna still has about 15-20 years before he reaches Prime Ministerial age (i.e mid 40s, if Blair is the yardstick for fresh-faced leaders), and Iwu an additional eight years.

But that doesn’t matter much. Whether it happens in 20 or 28 years, the important thing is that two powerful political brands of black descent are being built and effectively marketed to the conservative British society. Indeed, as Obama has clearly demonstrated, nothing is impossible.