UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, in a recent interview with The FP Honestly, shared candid insights into her experiences growing up in Nigeria. She accused the Nigerian police of corruption, recounting incidents where her brother’s shoes and watch were stolen.
“The police in Nigeria would rob us. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” Badenoch stated.
Born in the UK but spending much of her youth in Nigeria, Badenoch has frequently criticized Nigerian politicians for their misuse of public funds and failure to prioritize the people’s needs. “I grew up in Nigeria and saw firsthand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, using public money as their private piggy banks and polluting the political atmosphere with a failure to serve others,” she said. Reflecting on her move to Britain, she added, “I saw what socialism is for millions—poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to build a life where hard work and honest endeavor lead to success.”
Her comments have sparked controversy, with Vice President Kashim Shettima accusing Badenoch of unfairly disparaging Nigeria. In a separate interview with The Spectator, Badenoch further distanced herself from the broader Nigerian identity, emphasizing her Yoruba heritage. “I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba],” she remarked.
Badenoch also drew attention to the challenges faced by Nigeria’s northern region, linking it to Boko Haram insurgency and Islamist extremism. “Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped with northern people of Nigeria, who were our ethnic enemies, all in the name of being called a Nigerian,” she said.
The silence of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Badenoch’s remarks has raised questions about his position on the matter.
