The Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated that Nigeria will not pressure Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, to embrace her Nigerian roots.
Dabiri-Erewa shared that although NiDCOM has attempted to connect with Badenoch on a few occasions, they received no response.
“It’s a personal decision for her to embrace the Nigerian identity within her. We have reached out once or twice without a response, so we cannot force anyone to acknowledge their Nigerian heritage,” Dabiri-Erewa remarked during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.
She added, “If you recognize and appreciate the Nigerian spirit within you, we’re here to collaborate. But embracing that identity is a personal choice. You may recall the case of the Miss Universe Nigeria representative in South Africa. She identified with Nigeria, especially when she faced challenges there. She came to Nigeria, and we welcomed her. As long as Nigerian blood runs in you, you are a Nigerian.”
Regarding Kemi Badenoch, Dabiri-Erewa concluded, “It’s up to her to decide if she values her Nigerian identity and wishes to engage with us. But we cannot force anybody.”
Badenoch, 44, was elected the leader of the Conservative Party on Saturday, succeeding Rishi Sunak, who resigned following the party’s setbacks in the July general election. In a tightly contested race, she secured 57% of the votes against former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, making her the first Black leader of a UK-wide political party.
Upon her victory, Badenoch expressed pride in her new role, acknowledging the challenges ahead. “It is an enormous honor, but we must admit our mistakes and renew our focus on standards,” she stated. “It’s time to get down to business.”
Born in London in 1980, Badenoch spent her early years in Lagos, Nigeria, and later in the United States, where her mother worked as a lecturer. At 16, she returned to the UK due to Nigeria’s political and economic struggles at the time, which impacted her family’s situation.
NN News Media reported that Abike Dabiri-Erewa faced accusations of ethnic bias against the Igbo diaspora, with critics alleging she applies selective justice across Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
