The UK’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has stirred fresh controversy with remarks about her Nigerian heritage. In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch stated that she identifies more closely with her Yoruba ethnicity than with Nigeria as a whole, citing little connection to the country’s northern region.
“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba],” Badenoch said. “I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.”
Her comments have been met with backlash from Nigerians, including public figures, who have criticised her for what they view as divisive rhetoric. Nigeria’s Vice President, who is from the Boko Haram-affected Borno State, has also condemned Badenoch’s remarks, accusing her of misrepresenting the country’s diversity and challenges.
This controversy adds to the scrutiny Badenoch has faced for her previous critiques of Nigeria, particularly on issues of corruption and security, which she has openly discussed in British media.
In the same interview, Badenoch shed light on her experience as Conservative leader, describing her role as an opportunity to build something new. “It’s like a start-up,” she said, settling into her new position as leader of the opposition. “Everyone around me in the leader of the opposition office is there because of me – not because they happened to be there when I got there. That changes the dynamic quite a bit.”
Badenoch contrasted her current role with her time as a secretary of state, highlighting the collaborative environment she is fostering. “We are creating an office in our image and our mindset, and that’s different to going into the civil service and government departments,” she said.
Her close ally in this effort is her chief of staff, Lee Rowley, the former North East Derbyshire MP. “He is pretty much my closest friend in politics, so I have my friends with me,” she noted. “I have always wanted to make copies of myself… and it’s like having another me there. It’s absolutely brilliant.”
Despite the demanding schedule, Badenoch remains unflinching in her approach to work. When asked about her routine, she joked, “What’s decompressing, what’s that?” and dismissed traditional lunch breaks. “Lunch is for wimps. I have food brought in and I work and eat at the same time… Sometimes I will get a steak… I’m not a sandwich person; I don’t think sandwiches are a real food.”
While Badenoch keeps busy shaping her leadership, she has cautioned against expecting detailed policy announcements anytime soon, indicating that her focus remains on building her team and refining her vision for the party’s future.
