In a recent turn of events, Nigerian YouTuber Emdee Tiamiyu has found himself embroiled in a heated debate surrounding his contentious remarks on Nigerian migration to the United Kingdom. Tiamiyu’s statements, made during an interview with the BBC, suggested that many Nigerians enter the UK under the guise of studying but swiftly abandon their academic programs to pursue a better life.
The interview came shortly after UK’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, announced restrictions on international students bringing their families to the country during their Master’s programs.
Tiamiyu faced significant backlash as Nigerians argued that his claims would be used against them, potentially making it more difficult for Nigerians to migrate to the UK. Online discussions highlighted concerns over the impact of his statements and the potential reinforcement of negative stereotypes.
However, amidst the controversy, BBNaija star Leo Da Silva stepped forward to defend Tiamiyu. Leo, who resided in the UK for a decade, took to Twitter to express his support, emphasizing that Tiamiyu should not be blamed for shedding light on the challenges faced by Nigerians. Leo argued that the British people often work against immigrants and Tiamiyu’s claims should be understood within the broader context of UK immigration policies.
He further asserted that the UK seeks positive PR through interviews like the one Tiamiyu gave, in order to counter perceptions of prejudice or racism, while concurrently implementing restrictive measures that place individuals from other countries at a disadvantage.
