Former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has expressed disapproval of recent comments made by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, about Nigeria.
Akinyemi believes Badenoch’s statements reflect an attempt to advance her political career at the expense of her Nigerian heritage.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Monday, Akinyemi, a distinguished political science professor and former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), criticized Badenoch for “denigrating Nigeria on the global stage.”
“How could the daughter of a professor at UNILAG, with a father who was a medical doctor, and someone who attended the International School at UNILAG, portray herself as though she was selling groundnuts and water in Lagos just to boost her political career?” Akinyemi remarked. “It’s a mistake, but she’ll learn that you can’t discard your people and culture to further your ambitions.”
Akinyemi advised Badenoch to focus on addressing the challenges facing Britain and her Conservative Party, rather than criticizing Nigeria.
“She should be focusing on how to strengthen the right-wing profile of the Conservative Party, not attacking Nigeria,” he stated.
Badenoch’s remarks have sparked widespread reactions, with Nigerian officials and public figures weighing in.
Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala suggested that the comments were aimed at gaining acceptance within the Conservative Party.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, also rebuked Badenoch in December 2024, asserting that while she was entitled to her opinions, she had the freedom to dissociate from her Nigerian roots—suggesting she might even “remove the Kemi from her name.”
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