Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, has publicly criticized Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, for her disparaging comments about Nigeria. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Akinyemi expressed disappointment at Badenoch’s portrayal of her upbringing in Nigeria and her repeated negative statements about the country.
“How can the daughter of a professor of UNILAG — her father was a medical doctor — a girl who went to the international school at UNILAG, make it sound like she was selling groundnuts and water in Lagos to advance her political career?” Akinyemi questioned.
He emphasized that Badenoch’s remarks, intended to align with her political narrative, were a betrayal of her heritage. “She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and your culture under the bus in order to advance your career,” he added.
Akinyemi’s comments come in the wake of backlash Badenoch has faced in Nigeria for statements about her homeland. Badenoch had described Nigeria as a corrupt and insecure socialist nation, criticized the police, and highlighted the poverty she allegedly endured growing up in Lagos. Recently, Badenoch sparked further controversy, claiming that Nigeria “destroys lives” and citing her personal experiences of hardship to warn against similar governance in the UK.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life,” Badenoch said, referencing her family’s financial struggles. However, Akinyemi dismissed this narrative, urging her to focus on restoring the Conservative Party’s reputation rather than attacking her birthplace. He warned her against using Nigeria as a scapegoat for political gain, stating, “She is making a mistake, but she would soon learn.”
