A group going by the name Progressive Forces has launched a battle to stop Miss Universe Nigeria, Miss Chidimma Adetshina, from participating in the international pageant competition over alleged identity theft against her and her Mozambican-born mother.
Apparently acting on the basis of the Tuesday announcement by the department of home affairs, SA, that Adetshina and her mother’s South African identity and travel documents would be revoked after they failed to justify their validity, the Progressive Forces launched a petition against the Law student and Beauty Queen.
The petition which was launched on Wednesday, according to report, has garnered over 500 signatures in less than 24 hours.
“As Progressive Forces of South Africa, we are writing this letter on behalf of everyone who stands for justice to plead with you Miss Universe as an organisation to reconsider the contestant Miss Nigeria Universe and, if possible, to cancel her entry,” the petition read.
The petitioners argued that allowing her to contest could compromise the organisation’s integrity.
“Miss Universe is a known brand of class, integrity and fair competition. Miss Universe is known for granting a good platform to women from all walks of life to make a positive contribution to society while being the golden key to unlocking endless possibilities.
“We would hate to see the pageant losing its good image due to a contestant whose mother [allegedly stole] the identity of an innocent citizen. Not only did this contestant bring her own country into disrepute, but her participating in this iconic pageant would also bring Africa into disrepute.”
However, The Daily Crucible reports that Adetshina is not new to opposition.
In the build up to the Miss SA contest, a strong wave of opposition was stired against Adetshina’s participation, after the Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into her status soon as she hit the finalist list in the said Miss South Africa pageant, forcing her to beat a retreat and withdraw from the race.
She subsequently enlisted and won the Miss Universe Nigeria title, representing her father’s native land.
Aside from the raging opposition to stop her participation in the November 16 Miss Universe pageant, the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria edition also risks losing her South African citizenship and travel documents.
Reports have it that scrutiny has intensified following allegations that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African nationality.
Following from this, Adetshina, they claimed has Mozambican and Nigerian heritage.
Born in Soweto, Adetshina is reportedly in Mexico since yesterday to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe competition on November 16, where she will compete with other international contestants, including Mia le Roux, the reigning Miss South Africa.
