Kemi Badenoch Calls Nigeria Very Poor, Accuses Police Of Theft
Kemi Badenoch, the Nigerian-British leader of the UK’s opposition Conservative Party, has stirred controversy with her remarks about Nigeria where she described the country as “very poor” and criticized its police force for corruption and theft.
During an interview with The Free Press, Badenoch was asked if she trusted the British police and she said, “I do. My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria would rob us. I remember the police stealing my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things and giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate but that is not the ball we should use for the British police.
“My experience was very positive, like when I was burgled for example, the police were there, they were very helpful and they eventually got the person in 2004.”
Badenoch’s comments come amid ongoing debates about her Nigerian heritage and her identity.
Osun Defender had reported that Badenoch mentioned that she identifies more with her Yoruba ethnicity than with Nigeria as a whole.
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“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba),” she stated.
Badenoch further described northern Nigeria as a “haven for Islamism and Boko Haram,” sparking mixed reactions from Nigerians, both at home and abroad.
These remarks have divided opinions among Nigerians in the UK, with some expressing disappointment at her critical tone while others support her blunt critique of systemic issues.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
