For some time now, the Nigerian-born Mrs Kemi Badenoch, the new and first black leader of the British opposition Conservative Party, has been in the news for the wrong reason.
Her case is that of a perceived pompous decision to distance herself from the Country of her origin, despite the official overtures by the Nigerian government to identify with her on various occasions.
This could be painful, given the fact that her immediate predecessor, Rishi Sunak, openly identified with his Indian roots and religion from day one of his resumption of office. And he was an actual Prime Minister, even though his tenure was short-lived, just like the abrupt tenure of his predecessor, Liz Truss
Nigerians are wondering why a young woman, raised on our shores by Nigerian parents, could be so adamant as to not want to identify with a nation that needs people like her, to help us remind the world that we’re not only a nation groping in the economic wilderness while wallowing in political anyhowness, but also a country of great minds, full of excellent people like her.
It is on record, that the new Conservative Party leader, has had several occasions where she spoke about her sordid experience growing up in Nigeria, “in an environment of fear, insecurity and corruption” up until she was 16 when she relocated to the UK.
When she was reminded of such a denigrating statement she made in the past and Vice-President Shettima’s angst about her attitude, her spokesman wasn’t remorseful but rather affirmed that the conservative Party Leader “stands by what she says” and that “She’s not the PR for Nigeria”.
Just last Monday, Vice-President Shettima, during a speech on migration at the nation’s capital, Abuja said that Nigeria is still very “proud” of Kemi Badenoch “despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin”.
Nigerians, truly are angry with Kemi Badenoch for using every opportunity to remind the world only about her harrowing experiences growing up in Nigeria and her unreadiness to desist from such de-marketing of a people, at the slightest opportunity.
Yet, people whose great-grandparents were victims of chattel slavery, like the famous American Preacher, Bishop T.D Jakes and the boxing legend, Mike Tyson are still very proud of their Nigerian and Congolese ancestry respectively.
Since Kemi says she’s “not a Nigerian”, she must stop talking negatively about Nigeria anywhere she goes. Just as Reno Omokri wrote, she should remember that she’s only “British and not English”.
