Akinyemi Warns Kemi Badenoch Against Denigrating Nigeria for Political Gain
Former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has criticized Kemi Badenoch, the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, for making disparaging comments about Nigeria to advance her political career.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Akinyemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), warned that Badenoch, who was raised in Nigeria, would soon regret denigrating her country on the global stage.
Akinyemi emphasized that the UK politician, who is of Nigerian descent, was making a mistake by using negative stereotypes of Nigeria to boost her standing in British politics. He noted that she should focus on strengthening her own party in the UK instead of targeting her homeland.
“How the daughter of a professor of UNILAG, her father who was a medical doctor, a girl who went to the international school at UNILAG would make it sound like she was selling groundnuts and selling water in Lagos to advance her political career,” Akinyemi remarked.
He added, “She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and your culture under the bus to advance your career. She is making a mistake but she will soon learn.”
Akinyemi also pointed out that there is a Right Wing political party in the UK, and Badenoch should focus on regaining the right-wing profile of the Conservative Party instead of criticizing Nigeria.
This comment comes in response to recent remarks made by Badenoch, who had accused Nigerian politicians of misusing public funds for personal gain. Vice President Kashim Shettima had previously criticized Badenoch for her comments, suggesting that she should remove “Kemi” from her name if she continued to disparage Nigeria.
Akinyemi’s comments reflect growing concern among Nigerian leaders over Badenoch’s rhetoric, with some viewing it as an attempt to gain acceptance within the UK’s political landscape at the expense of her Nigerian heritage.
