Nigeria’s presidency on Wednesday called on the United Kingdom to “return”

Nigeria’s presidency on Wednesday called on the United Kingdom to “return”

Nigeria’s presidency on Wednesday called on the United Kingdom to “return” Kemi Badenoch for proper education. The British Conservative Party leader of Nigerian origin is known for her unrelenting and unfavorable remarks against Nigeria.

Kemi Badenoch recently claims that she won’t be able to pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman. However, Nigerian officials and media debunked her claim for the fact that the Nigerian Constitution does not discriminate against any gender when passing on Nigerian citizenship.

In a statement carried by presidential aides, the government accused Badenoch of repeatedly belittling her country of birth and attempting to gain political mileage in Britain at Nigeria’s expense. The presidency took aim at comments in which Badenoch described her upbringing in Nigeria as marked by corruption, insecurity and a lack of public services. Authorities characterized the remarks as unwarranted and undermining to national dignity.

“By urging Nigeria to change, she actually wants Nigeria to disappear from memory,” said a spokesperson, insisting London should recall her heritage just as it recalls armored divisions or colonial administrators of the past.

Badenoch, born in London and raised partly in Lagos, was elected Conservative leader in November 2024, becoming the first Black woman to lead Britain’s main opposition party. As leader, she has framed her political narrative around personal experiences: growing up in Lagos, family stories — negative portrayals that have courted both praise and criticism.

Her comments immediately drew rebukes from Nigeria’s government. In December, President Bola Tinubu’s media aides dismissed her accounts of carrying school chairs to class or lacking clean water as not adding up and labeled them cock‑and‑bull stories. They also noted that Badenoch declined invitations from Nigerian diaspora officials and urged her to stop weaponizing her origins for support among Britain’s right-wing

Nigeria’s statement on Wednesday urged the UK government to act, calling Badenoch a public figure with influence whose comments have implications beyond party politics. The presidency proposed a formal review of how such remarks are tied to diaspora relations and sought a commitment from London to uphold mutual respect and refrain from politicizing personal backgrounds.

Britain’s foreign office said it would not comment on internal political matters. Badenoch’s office referred questions back to party statements, emphasizing her proud Nigerian heritage and noting her right to freedom of expression.