A Nigerian man living in Italy since the 1970s has been elected the country’s first black Senator.
He is Toni Iwobi born in Gusau in Northern Nigeria. He is the chief immigration spokesman for the far-right League party in Italy, a party which has been accused of stirring up xenophobia.
The 62-year-old travelled to Italy on a student visa 40 years ago. He married an Italian and started his own Information Technology, IT, company in Italy.
Following the election, Iwobi said on Facebook on Tuesday, March 6: “It is with great excitement that I can tell you I have been elected senator… A new adventure is about to begin.”
Iwobi has been supporting the League for more than two decades and used the campaign slogan #StopInvasion – a reference to the more than 690,000 migrants who have landed on Italian shores from North Africa since 2013.
According to Iwobi, illegal immigration into Italy has led to an increase in racism.
He said in January: “Discrimination begins when there are no rules and the state… lets anyone in. Illegality leads directly to violence and a racist response. The League supports healthy and controlled immigration which can act as a bulwark against racism.”
Straightnews learnt that Iwobi’s party was elected in the industrial city of Brescia in Northern Italy – a major immigration hub.
Meanwhile, seven people of Nigerian origin were elected members of the British Parliament.
This was revealed by United Kingdom-based Nigerian university lecturer, Dr Adebisi Adewole, who is also the managing editor of African Pulse Magazine.
According to him, Nigerians across the UK are excited over the development, adding that the elected Members of Parlaiment success appears justified as they have broken various forms of historical barriers.
