British journalist Christopher Wilson stirred outrage among many Nigerians with a now-deleted tweet drawing parallels between Nigerians and Nazis regarding the reception of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, during their visit to Nigeria.
Wilson’s tweet, comparing Nigerians’ reception of the royal couple to Nazi Germany’s acceptance of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1937, elicited widespread condemnation.
In the deleted tweet, Wilson referenced the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s visit to Germany in 1937, drawing a comparison to Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s association with Adolf Hitler during their visit to Nazi Germany was highlighted.
Despite facing backlash for his comparison, Wilson pointed to a 2023 report by the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, which highlighted human rights abuses in Nigeria.
Nigerians and netizens swiftly criticized Wilson’s tweet, labeling it as racist and unfounded. Responses on social media platforms and news outlets condemned Wilson’s comparison and defended the purpose of Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria, which was to support wounded soldiers through the Invictus Games.
Journalist Rufai Oseni denounced Wilson’s remarks as racist and baseless, emphasizing the positive impact of the royal couple’s visit and their support for veterans through the Invictus Games.
Twitter user Glow Lee highlighted Wilson’s history of criticizing Meghan Markle and emphasized the toxic mentality of some royalist journalists.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Abuja last Friday for their visit, which aimed to celebrate the Invictus Games, a tournament founded by Prince Harry to support wounded soldiers.
Wilson’s tweet and subsequent backlash underscore the sensitivity surrounding discussions of racism and historical comparisons, especially in the context of high-profile visits and international relations.
