Chuka Umunna, the Nigerian-born British lawmaker touted as the “British Obama”, has admitted that he once smoked marijuana, locally known as ‘igbo’ or Indian Hemp in his native Nigeria. Umunna, whose late father, Chief Ben Osi Umunna, hailed from Anambra State, is regarded as the man who could become Britain’s first black Prime Minister. According to a report in today’s edition of the London newspaper, The Sun:

LABOUR high-flier Chuka Umunna has admitted he smoked cannabis before he became an MP.

The Shadow Business Secretary — a close pal of Labour leader Ed Miliband — revealed he took the drug when he was a teenage house music DJ.

Mr Umunna spoke about his younger life — when he also ran a club night in Brixton, South London — in an interview with The Sunday Times.

Asked if he’d ever taken drugs he said “No” then added: “I’ve smoked soft drugs. But it’s not something I’m proud of.”

Mr Umunna admitted the music industry was “rife” with drugs, but said he never tried anything harder than marijuana. He claimed: “That was a part of the industry I found unattractive.”

He argued that no one would be interested in hearing about an MP who once took drugs, adding: “I don’t think it’s news any more.”