The head of the UK Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch, has come under heavy fire from Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of External Affairs and Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), for disparaging Nigeria in public to further her political career.
Akinyemi, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television Politics Today programme on Monday, urged Badenoch to focus on strengthening her party in Britain instead of targeting Nigeria. He expressed disappointment and dismay that Badenoch, who is of Nigerian descent, would belittle her roots and heritage to further her political ambitions.
“How could the daughter of a UNILAG professor, who grew up attending the international school at UNILAG, claim to have sold groundnuts and water in Lagos to advance her career?” Akinyemi asked, emphasizing that Badenoch’s actions were a mistake that would ultimately harm her. “She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and your culture under the bus to advance your career. She is making a mistake, but she would soon learn.”
Akinyemi advised Badenoch to focus on regaining the Conservative Party’s right-wing profile instead of targeting Nigeria. He pointed out that there are even more right-wing parties in the UK that Badenoch should focus on competing with. “After all, right now, there is even a Right-Wing political party in the United Kingdom that is even to the right of the Conservative Party. So, what she should be focusing on is how to regain that right-wing profile of the Conservative Party and leave Nigeria alone.”
This is not the first time Badenoch has faced criticism for her comments about Nigeria. In 2022, she accused Nigerian politicians of misusing public funds, sparking outrage among Nigerians. Following her election as UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, reached out to Badenoch but received no response.
Akinyemi’s criticism of Badenoch comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its relationships with other countries, including the UK. The Nigerian government has been working to promote trade and investment between the two countries, and Badenoch’s comments have been seen as a setback to these efforts.
In conclusion, Professor Akinyemi’s criticism of Kemi Badenoch highlights the need for politicians to be mindful of their words and actions, particularly when it comes to their country of origin. Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria have been widely criticized, and it remains to be seen how she will respond to the backlash.