Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to the country.
According to him, criticisms about the visit are “shameful and disgraceful.”
In his 2025 Emancipation Day address, Prime Minister Pierre condemned what he described as politically motivated attacks driven by “colonial self-hate.”
Speaking in the capital, Pierre took a firm stance against those who opposed the Nigerian leader’s visit.
Read Also: Finally, Tinubu returns after visits to Saint Lucia, Brazil
He argued that the backlash, which he said was fueled by partisan interests and subtly supported by the opposition, reflected deep-seated psychological scars from the era of slavery.
President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia, aimed at formalising diplomatic relations with the island nation and other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), has sparked criticism from some Nigerians.
In response, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia described the backlash as a reflection of the lingering impact of slavery—manifested in self-hate and the tendency to view Africans and their descendants as inferior.
He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties between both nations.
