Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has provided explanations for choosing Yoruba heritage, while disowning Nigeria as an entity.
In an interview with ‘The Spectator’, Kemi stated that she identifies more with her Yoruba ethnicity than with Nigeria as a whole, asserting that her roots lie within this specific cultural heritage.
“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba),” Badenoch remarked.
She elaborated that she does not feel a connection to northern Nigeria, describing the region as a hub for extremism and the insurgent group Boko Haram.
“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is,” she said.
Badenoch also reflected on the significance of her surname, revealing how it shaped her sense of purpose.
“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,” she said.
She further emphasized her dedication to the United Kingdom, adding, “I am here to protect, and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there.”
Her remarks have sparked widespread reactions, with some criticizing her statements as dismissive of Nigeria’s national identity.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had criticised Kemi for making disparaging remarks about Nigeria.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja on Monday, Shettima emphasized that migrants are a vital source of life in all societies.
He said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.
She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name, but that does not underscore the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria.
“One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian and by 2050, Nigeria will support the United States, will be the third most populous nation on earth.”
