A Nigerian-Irish politician who was left shocked and visibly distressed after being spat at in a racially motivated attack on Friday night said she would not allow anyone to force her out of her “home”.
Meath County Councillor Yemi Adenuga was verbally abused while walking back to her car in Navan town centre, an incident she described as “frightening and disturbing”, reports Breaking News.
The incident happened after she returned to Navan from meetings in Slane, where she had been assisting local residents with a number of issues.
The Fine Gael councillor said she has become accustomed to hearing “derogatory” remarks and usually “brushes them off like water”, but said being spat on was deeply alarming, reports Breaking News.
As she made her way to her car, she said a man passed her before turning around and asking if she was “Yemi”.
“Usually I get stopped on the streets of Navan by residents looking for me to help with something, so it is not unusual to be stopped and have a chat with people, so I thought this was one of those kinds of conversations,” she said in a social media post shortly after the incident, reports Breaking News.
“She said ‘Shame on you, Shame on you for trying to teach u,s Irish people how to live our lives in our own country,” reports Breaking News.
Ms Adenuga said she was shocked and asked the man what he meant, at which point he told her he had heard her speaking on the radio and accused her of telling people how they should live.
He then said: “You’re not welcome here. You’re not my councillor, and I don’t recognise you, and if you’re not happy with how things are, you can go to the ‘f##k back to where you come from”, reports Breaking News.
“That wasn’t the worst part, she said. “He spat on me,” reports Breaking News.
“I’m still trying to gather myself because too many things went through my head,” reports Breaking News.
Cllr Adenuga said she wanted to thank two passers-by who stepped in to check on her wellbeing. She said the man then walked away, repeatedly shouting that she was not welcome and should “get the hell out of our country”, reports Breaking News.
“This happened in my town, in a place where I have served as a re-elected public representative for seven years. I have given and continue to give my service and commitment to the people of this town,” reports Breaking News.
“I’ve experienced all matters and all forms of discrimination and attack, both online and offline. People are saying derogatory things to me. I’m so used to hit now, I brush it off like water, but to get spat at!” reports Breaking News.
She said the incident highlighted that if such an attack could happen to an elected representative, it could happen to anyone.
Cllr Adenuga confirmed she has reported the incident to gardaí, reports Breaking News.
“Something needs to change. This is too close to home for comfort. It needs to stop,” reports Breaking News.
“Ireland is my home. This is my home, and by God, I’m not going to let anyone tell me otherwise or drive me out of here because this is my home,” reports Breaking News.
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