St Lucian PM condemns ‘vilification’ of Tinubu’s visit

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia has strongly criticised the negative reaction surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Saint Lucia, describing the hostility as shameful, disgraceful, and rooted in the harmful legacy of slavery and self-hate.

Delivering the message during Saint Lucia’s Emancipation Day address in Castries, Mr Pierre condemned the politically motivated vilification of the Nigerian leader. He argued that critics backing the narrative were echoing a mindset forged by colonial trauma—one that undervalues African leadership and success. According to him, had the visiting head of state been from elsewhere, the reception would likely have been more respectful.

Mr Pierre praised Tinubu’s visit as a historic milestone in diplomatic relations, underscoring its symbolism in rekindling ancestral and cultural ties with West Africa. He pointed out that many Caribbean nations, including Saint Lucia, have deep ancestral roots tracing back to Nigeria and described the exchange of ceremonies and signed memorandums of understanding as steps toward economic and cultural collaboration.

🧭 Why This Matters

• It highlights a contrast between domestic backlash in Nigeria and a warm international embrace—Saint Lucia reaffirming its solidarity and honoring ancestral connections.
• The comments expose the dangerous influence of post-colonial inferiority complexes, according to Mr Pierre, revealing how far colonialism’s mindset still permeates African discourse.
• The visit has also featured education, trade, and diaspora engagement agreements, reinforcing Nigeria’s foreign policy goals under its “Four D’s” framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.

✅ Bottom Line

Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister rejected all forms of denigration regarding the state visit and urged critics to recognize the positive diplomatic, cultural, and economic significance of President Tinubu’s engagement with the Caribbean nation—a move steeped in shared history and forward-looking collaboration.