Ex-Minister Bolaji Akinyemi criticizes Kemi Badenoch for undermining Nigerian heritage to advance her political career in Britain. Read more about the controversy here.
Former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has criticized Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in Britain’s Conservative Party, stating that she will eventually learn important lessons.
According to Akinyemi, one critical lesson Badenoch must grasp is that “you don’t undermine your people or culture to advance your career.”
The former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) accused Badenoch of disparaging her Nigerian heritage on a global platform to further her political ambitions.
Akinyemi’s Remarks on Channels Television
During his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Professor Akinyemi expressed his disapproval of Badenoch’s approach. He urged her to focus on addressing challenges within her party in Britain rather than demeaning Nigeria.
“How does the daughter of a professor from UNILAG, with a father who was a medical doctor, and a girl who attended the International School at UNILAG, turn around and depict her upbringing as though she was selling groundnuts and water in Lagos? This narrative to gain political mileage is a grave mistake,” Akinyemi remarked.
He further noted, “You don’t throw your people and culture under the bus for personal gain. She is making an error in judgment, but she will soon learn.”
The professor also emphasized that Badenoch’s priority should be restoring the right-wing identity of the UK’s Conservative Party rather than targeting Nigeria.
Political Backlash Against Badenoch
The controversy surrounding Badenoch’s remarks isn’t new. In December 2024, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, criticized her for denigrating the country and even suggested she remove “Kemi” from her name if she could not respect her Nigerian heritage.
Similarly, Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, described Badenoch’s comments as a tactic to win favor among her party members.
Back in 2022, during her bid for UK Prime Minister, Badenoch accused Nigerian politicians of misusing public funds for personal interests—a statement that stirred significant debate.
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