Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party, whose roots trace back to Nigeria, has stirred controversy with her recent remarks about Nigeria. These comments, which many have described as foul and denigrating, have prompted significant backlash from Nigerians and even some Britons.
In a pointed response, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, reminded Badenoch that she is not the first immigrant to rise to such a high position.
Shettima referenced other successful immigrants like Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister of Indian descent, as examples of leaders who have never felt the need to demean their country of origin.
He suggested that if Badenoch despises Nigeria so much, she could consider dropping her Nigerian name and adopting a British one, similar to how she abandoned her surname for her British husband’s. “You are not the first immigrant to rise to a top position in British politics, and none of them felt the need to belittle their roots,” Shettima said, urging Badenoch to “rethink her words and embrace the unity of her heritage.”
Rev. Father Matthew Kukah, a respected Nigerian cleric, also weighed in on the matter, offering his support for Shettima’s remarks.
Many of Badenoch’s supporters are expressing concern over her comments as well. Lanre Balogun, one of her proponents, cautioned her against alienating her natural constituency.
“Ms. Badenoch must not stray too far from her natural constituency as every politician soon learns,” Balogun warned. “She cannot ignore that she is black, and a daughter of immigrants, not only because it would smack of self-hatred, but it would rob her of the authenticity and largeness of spirit required of all transformative leaders.”
Lanre also urged her to seek advice from influential Nigerians such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Amina Mohammed, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in maintaining smooth relations with Nigeria. “It is of good diplomacy to ensure she has a smooth relationship with Nigeria,” he added.
Badenoch’s spokesperson responded to Shettima’s comments by claiming that Badenoch cannot be expected to do public relations for Nigeria. “Kemi cannot be doing PR for Nigeria,” the spokesperson said, which bewildered British journalists, with many of them expressing disbelief at Badenoch’s stance.
On a British television program, most panelists were visibly uncomfortable with her comments, with one journalist remarking that such statements typically serve to boost a politician’s own political capital.
“This is not a good look for Badenoch. When politicians make such comments, it’s usually for their own political capital,” the journalist said.
They pointed out that other British officials of foreign descent, like Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, have never belittled their countries of origin in the same manner. “Both Sunak and Patel are high-ranking officials who have never disrespected their heritage,” another panelist remarked.
The journalists further argued that, if Britain seeks to expand its global trade beyond the European Union, Badenoch should be more careful in criticizing one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa.
They reminded her that Nigeria’s economy is rapidly developing, with its young population contributing to this growth. “If Britain wants to expand its global trade and look beyond the European Union, Badenoch needs to be more mindful of her language.
Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa,” a British journalist said. Many were puzzled by her choice of language, given her personal ties to the country.
Despite her claims of difficult experiences in Nigeria, the British panelists highlighted that they knew others who had attended the same schools and lived in the same neighborhoods as Badenoch, yet had vastly different experiences.
Some of these individuals are also members of the Conservative Party, and they found her statements to be off-putting.
“We know people who lived in the same neighborhoods as Badenoch, who went to the same schools, but their experiences were completely different,” one panelist shared. “It is hard to reconcile this image with the reality.”
One female panelist remarked that Badenoch’s comments were unbefitting of someone in her position and compared her spokesperson’s response to a “teflon” statement, suggesting a dismissive attitude of “I said what I said and I don’t care.”
“Her response sounds like a teflon approach, like she doesn’t care about the implications of what she’s saying,” the panelist said. “This is not the attitude of someone in her position.”
In addition to her comments about Nigeria, Badenoch also made disparaging remarks about Caribbean nations seeking reparations from the UK, calling it a “scam.”
This has drawn even more criticism, especially when compared to the calls for reparations by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for white people who are victims of racial abuse. “Reparations for Caribbean nations? It’s a scam,” Badenoch had said, further polarizing opinions about her stance.
Badenoch also claimed that she identifies more as a Yoruba than a Nigerian, which some interpreted as having secessionist undertones.
Nigerians, regardless of their region, generally refrain from denigrating their country, as they remain committed to its unity and progress. “She said she identifies as a Yoruba and not as a Nigerian—this raises concerns about her loyalty to the unity of the country,” a Nigerian commentator said. “We are all one, and this kind of divisive talk is not helpful.”
Badenoch’s belief that her name in Yoruba means “warrior” might explain her combative rhetoric, but even warriors, as the saying goes, must choose their battles wisely.
As she embraces her newfound success in Britain, her harsh criticisms of her roots raise questions about her long-term relationship with the country that helped shape her. “It seems like Badenoch has forgotten that her rise to the top is in part thanks to the country she now criticizes,” a Nigerian observer noted. “She is rocking the cradle that nursed her.”
Her praise for Nigerians who supported her during her rise now seems to ring hollow, as she has publicly denigrated them and their homeland.
Just months ago, Nigerians were humorously issuing travel advisories to those wanting to visit the UK, due to violent protests and unrest over racial, religious, and xenophobic tensions. “Some Nigerians joked about issuing travel advisories for the UK, as protests over racial and religious tensions were tearing the country apart,” one observer recalled.
This was accompanied by concerns over the British government’s crackdown on free speech, arresting people for online comments.
As Britain struggles with these issues, it is clear that even Badenoch’s adopted country has its own share of challenges. “The UK has its own issues, with protests and government crackdowns. It’s not the perfect place people think it is,” said another Nigerian commentator.
While some criticize Nigeria for corruption, it’s worth noting that Western nations, including the UK, have often provided safe havens for illicitly gained wealth.
As the Vice President rightly pointed out, if foreign nations are so quick to highlight Nigeria’s flaws, they should also reflect on their complicity in this dynamic. “If Nigerians have stolen from their country, haven’t the UK and other nations provided safe havens for that ill-gotten wealth?” Shettima asked.
It’s evident that Badenoch’s approach has alienated not only Nigerians but also British figures who disagree with her dismissive attitude towards her origins. As Lanre Balogun aptly reminded her, today’s allies may become tomorrow’s enemies. “Revolving doors in established hegemonies often run out of oil, and stop revolving or become creaky for certain people after some time,” Lanre warned. “If she aspires to seek higher leadership positions, such ill-speak is not her territory at all.”
If Badenoch seeks to ascend to higher political positions, she will need to reconsider her approach and deploy more emotional intelligence, especially when navigating sensitive diplomatic issues. “She needs to use emotional intelligence, not just political intelligence, to navigate these tricky waters,” said a British political analyst.
