A one time Big Brother Naija housemate, Uriel Oputa, is now a British citizen by law, as she finally realized her childhood dream. Although she did not say the day she was confirmed, she shared some photos from her ceremony on her social media on Wednesday 18th December 2019.
Uriel Oputa who confirmed that she was actually born in the United Kingdom, and that ought to have qualified her as a British citizen, but because her mother is Nigerian and not British, she had to go through the tedious process of the citizenship scheme. She said:
“I’m officially a British Citizen 🥳 Although I was born here I was never entitled because my mother is Nigerian , one yeye law they passed bk then. Any who I finally decided to close my eyes and go through the Citizenship process it was tough oo but I sailed through the exams. Before!! Me wey get better brain” she said.
Celebrating further by posting photo from the office where she took her oath of allegiance which was administered privately and the signing of a witnessed form in front of the solicitor, she thanked her mother for her support and being a strong single mother of five children. She said:
“Just grateful my mum didn’t abandon us in Nigeria years bk when my Dad passed. She fought in a foreign country with Five children. Today I sang the British National Anthem. I almost swallowed my tongue 😂. Im British oooo by Law” she added.
Uriel Oputa who is still discussing childbirth, due to her mother, who is suffering from dementia and could soon forget everything, including her children, can now push ahead with that, since she is done with her citizenship battle.
Uriel said:
“My mum… If I leave it any longer and I don’t meet anybody anytime soon, she won’t remember my child. Even if I were to introduce my child to my mum, and she’s at her later stages of her illness, no connection, she will just… nothing. She’s already on her way out. And that made me angry. It made me angry.
I’ve never questioned religion in any way and I never will question religion… never question God, but I question my morals and for me that was deep.
I question my morals in the sense of, I said to myself, ‘what if I wanted to have a child in order for my child and for me to give my mum the chance to have a connection with my child before she goes?’ Because, my mum is going to forget the memories that we cherished together…”
Uriel narrated a cherished memory she fears her mother will forget.
“And she’ll forget all of that. She’ll forget my name. So while she’s still there just a little bit, would it be such a bad idea for me to have a child? And that thought crossed my head and I was like, ‘no no no. It’s not culturally… It’s not right culture-wise. People might look down at me. People might say, ‘you’re wrong’, ‘I hate you’ or ‘you’re setting a bad example’. So in what situation does a situation become morally right.”
She continues:
“Put your self in this shoe, and I’m not saying that I’m going to do it, but if you was in my position, would you say having a child whatever way – artificial insemination or whatever – is wrong? Is it morally right or wrong? You guys decide and let me know. It’s a very interesting topic and I wanted to share that with you,” she had said then.
Whether or not this latest development could hasten her dream for a child, we cannot tell, but from us here, we are saying a big congratulations to her!