UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has sparked controversy with her remarks about the Nigerian Police, accusing them of robbing citizens rather than protecting them.
In a recent interview with a British journalist, Badenoch compared her experiences with law enforcement in Nigeria and the UK, describing her Nigerian encounters as overwhelmingly negative. “The police in Nigeria will rob us,” she stated, sharing a personal anecdote of her brother’s belongings—his shoes and watch—being stolen by officers.
Badenoch’s criticism extended beyond the police, as she described Nigeria as a “socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.” Her remarks reignited debates about her ties to Nigeria, where she spent her childhood before moving to the UK at 16.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima rebuked her comments, advising Badenoch to abandon her Nigerian name if she no longer wishes to identify with her homeland. Badenoch’s spokesperson responded, stating, “Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR. She tells the truth and stands by what she says.”
The Conservative leader emphasized her Yoruba identity over a Nigerian national identity, noting, “I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba].” She added that she shares little in common with Nigerians from the northern region.
Born in the UK to Nigerian Yoruba parents, Badenoch’s blunt assessments and hardline political stances have sparked ongoing conversations about her cultural and political affiliations.
