The leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has sparked significant controversy following her recent remarks about her identity and her views on Nigeria during an interview with The Spectator.
In the interview, Badenoch highlighted her Yoruba heritage while distancing herself from being identified as Nigerian. She attributed this stance to the country’s challenges with extremism in its northern region.
“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba],” Badenoch stated. “I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.”
Her comments have ignited widespread backlash from Nigerians, including public figures, who have accused her of portraying the country negatively on international platforms. This reaction comes amidst a series of her statements in British media that highlight Nigeria’s struggles with corruption and insecurity.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is from Borno, a region significantly impacted by Boko Haram, criticised Badenoch’s comments sharply. “She could go ahead and change her name if she does not want any association with the greatest black nation on earth, the nation called Nigeria,” Shettima said.
Despite the criticisms, Badenoch has stood by her statements, further elaborating on her position. “Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped up with northern people of Nigeria, who ‘were our ethnic enemies’ all in the name of being called a Nigerian,” she added.
Badenoch also reflected on her Yoruba roots through a personal anecdote. “Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that’s what I see myself as doing.”
Concluding her remarks, Badenoch reaffirmed her allegiance to the UK. “I am here to protect, and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there,” she said.
