OPINION: Kemi Badenoch & Nigeria: Political Strategy Or Diaspora Betrayal?

Dear Nigerians, let’s talk plain and straight. Kemi Badenoch is one of us. Born in Nigeria. Raised partly in Lagos. She knows our streets, our hustle, our vibes. Now, she is a big name in the UK, leading their Conservative Party. That’s a proud thing, isn’t it? A Nigerian making waves abroad. But here’s the problem: every time Kemi talks about Nigeria, she paints us as backward people not worthy of having her as a daughter. She throws our country under the bus to shine in the UK. I’m vexed. You’re vexed.

We are all vexed. Last week, she went on CNN with Fareed Zakaria, she claimed: “Because I’m a woman, Nigeria won’t let me pass citizenship to my child.” Ha! That’s a big lie, aunty Kemi! Our Constitution, Section 25(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) says: “Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria is a citizen of Nigeria.” It doesn’t say father only. It says parents, both mother and father. In other words, if your mother or father is Nigerian, your child is Nigerian. No gender wahala. So, why did Kemi say this?

Why twist Nigeria’s laws to make us look bad?

This isn’t her first time of trying to stain our white. In 2024, during her campaign to lead her party, she talked about Nigeria’s corruption and red tape. She said it to make the UK look like paradise. It’s like Nigeria is her punching bag. She drags us just to shine for UK voters and say, ‘See? I’ve escaped the chaos.’ The UK is better.” Her audience claps.

The UK newspapers write about her. When someone of hercalibrer misrepresents Nigeria on international platforms, it reinforces dangerous stereotypes that affect how investors, aid agencies, and even tourists view us. But what about us? Nigeria, with over 220 million people, is bigger than Kemi’s ambition. We’re not her doormat.

Why does she keep doing this? Let’s break it down. First, it’s politics. Kemi wants to win votes in the UK. Her Conservative Party loves tough talk on immigration. So, she points at Nigeria and says, “Look at their strict laws. The UK is too soft.” It makes her sound strong. It makes her party happy. Second, it’s about attention. Every time she mentions Nigeria, it’s news. People talk. The noise keeps her name in the headlines. Third, maybe she is trying to prove she is “British oyinbo enough.”

As a Nigerian-British woman, she might feel pressure to distance herself from Nigeria. By criticizing us, she is saying, “I’m one of you, UK.” I get it, but that’s a cheap move.

What does Kemi gain? Plenty. She gets votes from UK people who don’t know Nigeria. They hear her stories and think, “Wow, she has seen it all. She is tough on immigration.” She gets TV time, newspaper columns, and claps from her party. Her face stays in the news. If she wants to be Prime Minister one day, this noise helps her climb. But what does she lose? Our respect.

Nigerians at home and abroad are angry. On our streets, people call her out daily. “Kemi, why lie about Nigeria?” they ask. “Why use us to shine?” She is losing the love of the Nigerian diaspora. She is losing her roots. In a scathing pushback, a Nigerian born British lawyer, political & women’s rights activist, Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu insists that Badenoch owes Nigeria an apology for this brazen lie!

Let’s go back a bit. In 2010, when Kemi was still Kemi Adegoke, she was desperate to win a UK parliamentary seat. Guess what? She came to Nigerians, cap in hand. She begged us, saying, “I am asking for your help now to support a Nigerian who is trying to improve our national image and do something great here.”

Yes, she called herself a Nigerian. She wanted our support to lift Nigeria’s name. We clapped for her then. We prayed for her. But now, as Kemi Badenoch, she acts like being Nigerian is a stain. She only mentions Nigeria to talk about corruption or backward laws. What happened to the Kemi who wanted to make Nigeria proud? Did she forget us when she changed her name and climbed the UK ladder?

Let’s be real. Nigeria has issues. Our leaders are mindless and our roads are deathtraps. Insecurity is the new normal and corruption is a vibe. We know this. But we’re proud. We hustle. We laugh. We build. Nigeria is not a prop for political ambition. She is Nigerian by blood. She ate our food. She danced to our music. She knows our heart. Why can’t she tell our true story? Why can’t she say, “Nigeria has challenges, but it’s a land of strength and hope”? Instead, she picks the easy path: drag Nigeria to lift herself up.

This hurts more than just our feelings. Kemi’s words paint Nigeria as a place that hates women or progress. That’s not true. Our women are CEOs, doctors, senators. Our youth are building unicorn startups and thriving entertainment industries. The diaspora is watching. Nigeria is watching. If she becomes a big leader, she’ll need to work with Nigeria. We are Africa’s giant. We’re the UK’s partner in trade, culture, and more. Will we trust her then? Will she have the face to visit Lagos and call herself one of us? I doubt it.

Kemi, hear me. You’re Nigerian. Be proud of it. Stop using our name to climb. Tell our story with respect. Talk about our hustle, our music, our dreams. If you can’t do that, leave Nigeria out of your mouth. We’re not your steppingstone. To every Nigerian reading this, market women, students, drivers, grandmas, let’s keep shining. Let’s keep building. Nigeria is ours, and we’re bigger than anyone’s ambition. Let us not wait for the world to define us. Whether you are in London, Lagos, or Lokoja, carry Nigeria with pride. Speak truth, but speak it with honour and love.

– Young Ozogwu writes from Abuja, Nigeria

Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.

OPINION: Kemi Badenoch & Nigeria: Political Strategy Or Diaspora Betrayal? is first published on The Whistler Newspaper