Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK\u2019s Conservative Party, has sparked controversy with her recent comments about her identity and her views on Nigeria.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch emphasised her Yoruba heritage and distanced herself from identifying as Nigerian, citing the country\u2019s northern region as a hub for extremism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba],\u201d Badenoch said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Badenoch\u2019s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from Nigerians, including public figures, who accuse her of presenting a negative image of the country on international platforms.<\/p>\n
This criticism comes amid her frequent comments on Nigeria\u2019s challenges with corruption and insecurity in British media.<\/p>\n
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who hails from Borno, a region heavily affected by Boko Haram, addressed Badenoch\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe could go ahead and change her name if she does not want any association with the greatest black nation on earth, the nation called Nigeria,\u201d Shettima said.<\/p>\n
Despite the backlash, Kemi Badenoch has stood by her statements.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped up with northern people of Nigeria, who \u2018were our ethnic enemies\u2019 all in the name of being called a Nigerian,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on her Yoruba roots, Badenoch shared a personal anecdote: \u201cSomebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that\u2019s what I see myself as doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She concluded with a reaffirmation of her commitment to the UK, \u201cI am here to protect and I will die protecting this country because I know what\u2019s out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK\u2019s Conservative Party, has sparked controversy with her recent comments about her identity and her views on Nigeria. In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n