₦airaland Forum

President of the Saint Lucian Senate, Alvina Reynolds, has highlighted the strong ancestral connections between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.

Reynolds cited data from a British census conducted on the island in 1815, revealing that many Saint Lucians trace their origins to Nigeria.

She made this known while welcoming President Bola Tinubu to a joint session of Saint Lucia’s bicameral parliament on Monday.

A statement on the joint session issued by the presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, was made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

‎“Of the 16,282 enslaved people in Saint Lucia that year, 3,488 were born in Africa.”

‎”Of these, 34 per cent were from Nigeria, 11 per cent from Nigeria-Cameroon, and 22 per cent from the Congo.”

‎”The remaining 12,794 were born in Saint Lucia, with most of their forefathers coming from Sene-Gambia and Nigeria,” she said.

She described President Tinubu’s visit as historic for both the Parliament and the people of Saint Lucia.

According to Reynolds, the transatlantic slave trade, spanning over 350 years, forged enduring cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

Reynolds called the visit “a mission to reunite us with our homeland and for our people to work together.”

The Senate President also paid tribute to Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979.

‎“This mission, Your Excellency, continues with Catholic priests from Nigeria who have answered the call and come to Saint Lucia to serve, one of whom is our special guest this morning—Father Festus.”

‎“Your address to this Parliament today could not have occurred at a more auspicious time, for today is World Parliament Day—an occasion to reflect on the essential role of Parliament and the service we provide as representatives to our people.”

In response to Tinubu’s speech, Prime Minister Philip Pierre described the state visit as a moment of “freedom and celebration”.

Pierre acknowledged deep ancestral and emotional ties with West Africa, calling Saint Lucia “a small fragment of Africa”.

‎“Our people have been separated, but nothing has ever been able to separate us spiritually and culturally from West Africa, where some of our ancestors came from and for whom our hearts continually yearn.”

‎“We are African people who have made permanent homes for ourselves on this side of the Atlantic, on the hills and valleys of the plantations on which we were enslaved.

‎”But, we have built these homes, Mr President, not for ourselves but in the service of all humanity, especially Africa, in whose direction we continually watch, wait, hope and pray for our future redemption,” he said.

Pierre humorously noted that Saint Lucia’s population is smaller than Eti-Osa Local Government in Lagos. ‎

Nonetheless, the prime minister affirmed the island’s pride as a sovereign nation “deeply connected to the world, Nigeria, and West Africa”.

He also acknowledged the Nigerian community’s contributions in healthcare, religion, cuisine, tourism, and social development.

‎“We warmly welcome every Nigerian hand of support and embrace with gratitude their contributions to Saint Lucia’s cultural, social, and economic development.”

‎”We are the richer for it,” he said.

Reflecting on Africa-Caribbean relations, Pierre welcomed progress since the first Africa-CARICOM Summit in 2021 and anticipated the next summit in Addis Ababa.

He listed potential cooperation areas, including tourism, air travel, creative industries, fintech, sports, renewable energy, and medical services.

Pierre noted that while Saint Lucia receives over one million tourists annually, few come from Nigeria due to limited air connectivity. ‎

He proposed partnerships in sports, especially football and cricket, and urged Nigerian fintech and healthcare professionals to explore Saint Lucia’s expanding sectors.

The joint session was attended by diplomats, dignitaries, and top leaders from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/07/our-ancestors-traced-to-nigeria-saint-lucian-senate-president/

Another achievement for the urban bandit. Tinubu is a one term president.

Are we sure this isn't where Tinubu originated from, since we can't say for certain where he's from?

Xankly:
Another achievement for the urban bandit. Tinubu is a one term president.

You meant like your 5% inconsequential votes were unable to stop Buhari, right? Tinubu one term spans to 2031. You can keep making noise, so far you can't bite like in 2023, no problem

Only nonsense nonsense meetings this one Dey attend upandan,who send am go there!

This man is a very great man. He knows how to touch the right places in the world.

welcome.


15. Don't attempt to post censored words by misspelling them.
16. Don't promote shady investments like HYIP, MLM on Nairaland.
18. Don't spam the forum by advertising in the wrong places or posting the same content many times.

Come and find them here in Igboland...








Even many Jews belong here

Please shift, how is that help us in Nigeria. Another scam, Na so Obama claimed his lineage Africa, did that give Africa any leverage

They have started yorubas,It is will soon claim it

Noted.

President of the Saint Lucian Senate, Alvina Reynolds, has highlighted the strong ancestral connections between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.

You guys TRUEly are Nigerians. We know them by their SPEECH

You guys TRUEly are Nigerians. We know them by their SPEECH.

You guys TRUEly are Nigerians. We know them by their SPEECH..

And your god Emilokan JAGABAN the god of Politics and Strategy has visited you. You are blessed

I hope the Divine Real Estate will reach here. I can't imagine people knocking on our and asking us to vacate that God promised them my 13k years ago

Xankly:
Another achievement for the urban bandit. Tinubu is a one term president.

Obi would be SM president for life!!! Great achievement if I must say

Ofunaofu:
Are we sure this isn't where Tinubu originated from, since we can't say for certain where he's from?

This is unlikely.

The only thing is whether ebilokan chose the Tinubu surname deliberately to perpetuate modern slavery that loots and stashes our resources to further develop Arab and oyinbo countries.

anonimi:
The often cited biography titled Madame Tinubu: Merchant and King-maker, authored by Nigerian historian Oladipo Yemitan, paints her views regarding slave trading.

On one occasion, during her final sojourn in Abeokuta, she was alleged to have sold a young boy into slavery and was accused of it. When arraigned before Ogundipe Alatise over the matter, she reportedly explained: 'I have a large house-hold and I must feed them well. I need money to do that, that's why'.

— Oladipo. Yemitan, 'Madame Tinubu: Merchant and King-maker'

Another section of Yemitan's Tinubu biography, referred to as the Amadie-Ojo Affair, captures a slave trading deal gone sour in 1853 (notably after the 1852 Treaty abolishing slavery in Lagos) wherein Tinubu tells another slave trader (Domingo Martinez) that "she would rather drown the slaves [20 in number] than sell them at a discount".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efunroye_Tinubu

We no blame this man na Tinubu we blame. Why haven't he comes to Nigeria to tell this to us.

sreamsense:
You meant like your 5% inconsequential votes were able to stop Buhari, right? Tinubu one term spans to 2031. You can keep making noise, so far you can't bite like in 2023, no problem

I beg tell these people...They are inconsequnetial.

Ofunaofu:
Are we sure this isn't where Tinubu originated from, since we can't say for certain where he's from?

Probably!!

Have nothing else to say,seun you really need...........40 characters complete.

This is a very sensitive matter.

Those condemning it are uninformed.

During the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, many slaves were taken from Africa to the West Indies. We see some of their descendants in the United States some of whom say they can be 28% Nigerian.

Peter Obi released the following rant on Twitter:

It is alarming that we now live in a country of titles and honours without any passion for the people's plight. While the Presidency basks in the euphoria of titles, St.Lucia, our people are being killed at home.

A nation where children cannot go to school because some of the teachers have not been paid for almost three years, similar to what I complained about lecturers a few weeks ago.
This is not a functioning nation.

When I said that the President embarking on an 8-day state visit to St. Lucia at this critical time was inappropriate and unacceptable, it was not a lack of respect for the country of St.Lucia; rather, it is about the timing and duration for a President whose nation is in turmoil. Timing is everything, and right now, at this time, Nigeria is bleeding.

But the handlers of the President defended the trip, citing cultural ties and economic gains and said he would also proceed from there to the BRICS summit, and this is the reason for the 8-day trip. But at this critical time when our people die daily and our schools and hospitals are not functioning, we should focus on fixing our country.

Having been in St. Lucia for the past 4 days, we have not seen any agreement being entered or signed that would contribute to Nigerias development but rather we are watching Mr. President collect a personal honour and title in St. Lucia, because they know we are a country of titles and honour and crave accolades instead of actual development.

Just today, as the President received titles in St. Lucia, at least 37 people were killed in Yobe State, in a Boko Haram attack, and currently, today, protesters in Kwara state have been protesting unemployment, banditry and high insecurity in the state.

Since the President left for his trip to St. Lucia, a nation 1/6th of Lagos state in size and 1% of Lagos population of 18milliom several Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity and one form of banditry to another, nothing has been done for the schools and striking teachers. Today alone several teachers are protesting in Abuja, our schoolchildren are still out of classrooms, teachers are unpaid and are currently protesting even while the president was receiving a title, families are fleeing their homes, and people are living in fear. During the period the president has travelled, 200 Nigerians have died in various crisis-related incidents across the country. Russia, a country at war, has not lost as many innocent civilians as Nigeria, which is not officially at war.

Other than Katsina where Mr. President went to attend a wedding, he has never spent a night or slept in any Nigerian state other than his home in Lagos for an official tour and even have never visited some of the most troubled states like Niger State, Taraba or Plateau to spend even a single day with the people, yet he is spending eight days in a Caribbean Island.

A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial. At a time when blood is being spilt on our soil, when children are orphaned and communities erased overnight, with families separated at IDPs, our children are not in school, and teachers are not paid and basic hospitals are not functional, our leadership must be present.

For those mentioning the upcoming BRICS summit to justify the trip, note that the summit is for the 6th and 7th, and no president or prime minister from the initials BRICS state and new members have separated their countries for the summit. In fact, China and Russia, two of its most powerful members, will not be attending.

China said they have to attend other pressing issues and so mentioned scheduling conflicts and Russia supposedly because of the war which has prevented the president from travelling in recent times

India Premier Minister which is yet to leave its country, will, apart from attending BRICS, be doing a 5-nation tour all within the same 8 days.

We must prioritise our own domestic challenges because no vacation, no summit and definitely no conference is more important than the lives of the Nigerian people you swore to protect.

Our children being in school, our people, especially young ones, being pulled out of poverty, we must now prioritise the security and welfare of Nigerians and vigorously pursue the same.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

https://x.com/PeterObi/status/1940108185353797672

Dear Peter Obi, you hardly ever learn. Despite explanations on the nature of the visit, you are still insisting the visit was unnecessary.

You likely think so because you are a micro-manager. Nigeria is a federal system. Governors have their mandates to run their states. Only failed governors and failed former governors expect the president to be responsible for everything. Despite repeated explanations that the president spent nights in Katsina on a state visit, Peter Obi is doubling on the wicked lie that Tinubu went there to attend a wedding.

As for the issue that no agreements were signed, can Peter Obi tell us the agreements he signed as governor that led to the development of Anambra state? In any case, the meeting in Saint Lucia has led to the establishment of diplomatic relationships, cultural ties and education exchange. Also, the shortage of doctors in Saint Lucia opens avenues for our healthcare workers to find alternative routes to do their medical practice. Medical practitioners in Saint Lucia earn up to $533,000 according to Glassdoor which can increase inflows through remittances back home. The visit by Tinubu also opens doors to the Caribbean nations. Additionally, the offer of scholarships by Tinubu will likely be reciprocated by Caribbean nations. Many people may not be aware that the GDP of the entire Caribbean countries is $135.73 billion while that of Nigeria is $375 billion. China has a GDP of $17.79 trillion, but they are still expanding and developing relationships with relatively less rich countries to boost trade. We can start exports and boost trade not only with Saint Lucia, but the entire Caribbean corridor.

Peter Obi needs to think more deeply about global affairs. He is forgivable for not understanding climate change, artificial intelligence and sundry development issues. But he is unforgivable for refusing to take corrections or maintain dignified silence where he is limited. It is clear that his team is uninterested in providing sensible ideas that can revolutionize anything. They just like the illusion of consumption to production, despite lacking the competence and cognate experience for leadership, innovation and vison.

Xankly:
Another achievement for the urban bandit. Tinubu is a one term president.

You go cry tire. You think Tinubu is Goatluck Jonathan. Your eyes go clear even before election day

Africans have great opportunity but look at where we find ourselves today.

Very correct!
Your ancestors migrated from Iragbiji in 1322.

Why not?
Your ancestor just came to launder his loot.

Lanre1st:
Please shift, how is that help us in Nigeria. Another scam, Na so Obama claimed his lineage Africa, did that give Africa any leverage

Myopic minds are not too difficult to know....do you know how much Nigeria stands to gain in terms of trade agreements.....your businesses can easily go invest in the Carribbean economies and Nigeria's can easily get to travel over there and set up,that's another market with per capita income even higher than ours.....not everything is tinubu Vs obi life is far beyond that

Chagoury is permanent rep for this same country. What is tinubu cooking like this

No doubt. Because the way those people party, dress up, and show off ehn. No difference from Nigerian youths.