₦airaland Forum

Nigerians In UK Divided Over New Conservative Leader, Kemi Badenoch's Policy Stance

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-11/Kemi%20Badenoch_0.jpeg
November 12, 2024
News

Kemi Badenoch becoming the first Black woman to lead a major British political party has reportedly brought divisions among some Nigerians and their descendants who call Britain their home.

The United Kingdom’s Conservative Party had announced the election of Kemi Badenoch as its leader ahead of her closest rival, Robert Jenrick.

Badenoch, who received 53,806 votes to defeat Robert Jenrick who got 41,388, succeeds Rishi Sunak as leader of the opposition Party.

Speaking on the significance of her victory and her ambitions for the Party, she said her first responsibility is to hold the Labour Party’s Government to account, while the second is to prepare for the next few years for the Government.

The former British Business Secretary is the first black woman to lead a major political Party in the UK and takes charge of a Conservative Party reeling from its worst-ever election defeat.

Born in Wimbledon, London, on January 2, 1980, to Nigerian parents, she spent her childhood in Lagos and the United States until she returned to the UK at the age of 16.

Reuters reports that not everyone is celebrating.

Some fear Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents but lived in Lagos until she was 16, will undermine progress towards racial equality.

The 44-year-old former software engineer represents the right wing of the opposition Conservative Party and was elected its leader on Nov. 2, after it lost power in a July election.

A defender of meritocracy, she said she prefers not to focus on her race, arguing she would like the colour of her skin to be no more significant than the colour of her hair or eyes.

For Nigeria-born Abel Fayemi, who has lived for more than two decades in Peckham, a south London neighbourhood that is home to one of the largest Nigerian communities in Britain, Badenoch's election by Britain's most successful political party was a "remarkable achievement".

"It has given us hope," said Fayemi, one of the nearly 300,000 Nigerians in Britain.

Nigerian Ajofoyinbo Oluwajuwon, 24, has lived in London for six years and sees Badenoch as someone to look up to. "A Black woman doing something like that (is) definitely an inspiration."

Yahed Lawal, a 64-year-old from Nigeria, also agreed with Badenoch's approach, saying: "Colour don't really matter."

However, some of Badenoch's remarks have caused alarm among some within the Black community and anti-racism activists in Britain.

At the Conservative Party conference in October 2023, she said she tells her children that Britain is the "best country in the world to be Black because it's a country that sees people, not labels".

She has described calls for reparations for slavery, which advocates say are crucial to overcome racial discrimination today, as a "scam", and has opposed the teaching in schools of critical race theory - an academic concept that rests on the premise that racial bias is baked into Western institutions.

Badenoch has previously argued that critics were trying to "silence people like me" as they believed all Black people should have the same views.

"There is a left-wing view of racial politics that's assumed to be the Black view of politics," she told the Spectator magazine in 2020.

Badenoch, who has said she has a hard-nosed view on immigration, supported a plan to deport asylum-seekers arriving in Britain without permission to Rwanda, which has since been scrapped by the new Labour government.

She said in a newspaper article in September it should not be assumed that "all cultures are equally valid" when it comes to deciding who should be allowed into the country, and said those moving to Britain should accept its values.

She later told the BBC she was referring to "cultures that believe in child marriage, or that women don't have equal rights".

Janett Walker, CEO and founder of Anti Racist Cumbria, said in a statement that Badenoch's approach would be "used outside of politics to gaslight us and our concerns", adding: "The denial is coming from someone who looks like me."

According to Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission, unemployment rates are higher among Black people, they earn less, are more likely to live in substandard and overcrowded accommodation and face tougher rates of prosecution and sentencing.

British-Nigerian writer Nels Abbey, one of many who criticised Badenoch on social media following her appointment, said some would feel they could "convey racism without having to deal with the baggage of actually being labelled a racist" as the rhetoric would be "outsourced" to a Black person.

Annabel Sowemimo, of British-Nigerian heritage and founder of Reproductive Justice Initiative, which aims to address health and racial inequalities, said Badenoch pointed to her own success as something she achieved on merit, but did not acknowledge obstacles such as racism that others might face to accomplish the same.

"It would be a much more formidable thing if she had challenged sexism and racism to get to this position but she has not done that," Sowemimo said. "And that is actually what attracted a lot of people to her as a candidate."

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Badenoch, who received 53,806 votes to defeat Robert Jenrick who got 41,388, succeeds Rishi Sunak as leader of the opposition Party.

If you have a good trade deal between Nigeria and UK that will benefit both countries contact her, if you don't please move on. Abike is looking for a woman they can be using to take pictures and boost connections. If she cares tell her to show us the benefits of her office to an ordinary Nigerian living abroad. Please if she can show us one benefit apart from collecting pictures of people working hard to survive that the name Nigeria makes life difficult for I will apologise for calling her useless. Abeki this is not NTA your work is more needed in Libya not UK.

It's a shame that those names had to leave Nigeria to succeed. I don't know about you but it's a shame for me to see Nigerians making it abroad when the same person would have been struggling in Nigeria. There is nothing special living abroad but Nigerians make it look like it's heaven living abroad.

I'm yet to know what this woman did wrong

She said Nigeria is a bad country?

Who doesn't know that?

Kemi Vs Keir: Live
Sky News


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qu70uPvLZE?si=1zh3u93pLq77nvok

E be like say una no wan rest for dis woman matter?

Kemi Badenoch MP On Prosperity, Decolonisation And Race [FULL INTERVIEW]
Alliance for Responsible Citizenship
Nov 6, 2023


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NrDc4K7K-0?si=-krcz1noY6oLQ_Bq

We apologise for the audio quality, however, this interview with Kemi Badenoch is well worth listening to in full.

The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for Business and Trade. President of the Board of Trade, and Minister for Women and Equalities. She holds degrees in engineering and law and had a career in digital consultancy and financial services before entering politics.

I no send her Mama. I dey run my own hustle and I dey pay the neck cutting taxes. She and other greedy UK politicians can go to hell

simpleseyi:
I no send her Mama. I dey run my own hustle and I dey pay the neck cutting taxes. She and other greedy UK politicians can go to hell

LOL

So na UK you dey or run to. But you dey online here dey support Bulaba. Yet you call UK politicians greedy. Nemesis will catch up with you.

Sheuns:
LOL

So na UK you dey or run to. But you dey online here dey support Bulaba. Yet you call UK politicians greedy. Nemesis will catch up with you.

The same nemesis wey dey fucck you since? E never get time, until e fucck you to pregnancy. Anyway, nothing in my post says that I dey UK.

Baseless saying everywhere..

Una go dey alright..

simpleseyi:
The same nemesis wey dey fucck you since? E never get time, until e fucck you to pregnancy. Anyway, nothing in my post says that I dey UK.

What taxes are neck pressing then. The ones you said greedy UK politicians collect. And I asked you are the politicians you support in Nigeria in anyway better than those you tagged greedy in the UK?

The UK’s Rising Star With Rt Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5sY-bTpwdY?si=FGlvDVduIN3w5-B6

Black People Say This About Kemi Badenoch (British Nigerian)
The Subi Shop


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpWf3TQjf2Y?si=0ixaCO_dihFkTVFW

Revealed: Why Kemi Badenoch Snubbed Abike Dabiri | The Real Truth Uncovered
Kassala Anaysis


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrhHcVIit4?si=D9a7zSPJFIqK9PrY

Prime Minister & Labour Called Out For Their Hatred Of Trump
The Alternative View


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyJDMPgcAXg?si=JXTc8JlbOVOGU3ry

A British Nigerian Prime Minister?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltcIrg0t0ag?si=Glfn3RwDuWky9y9N

You Can Remove 'Kemi' From Your Name – VP Shettima Accuses UK Party Leader Badenoch Of Denigrating Nigeria

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December 10, 2024
News

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has accused the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, of disparaging her country of origin, Nigeria.

He made the statement on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja.

Shettima said, "Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin."

He further added, "She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria."

The Vice President highlighted Nigeria’s significance on the world stage, stating, "One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian and by 2050, Nigeria will support the United States, and will be the third most populous nation on earth."

In his address, Shettima also emphasised the key role of migrants in shaping society and contributing to economic growth.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting migrant rights and celebrating their contributions to national development.

In 2022, Badenoch, a UK member of parliament of Nigerian descent, accused Nigerian politicians of misappropriating public funds.

Following her election as the UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) reached out to her office but received no response, according to NIDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

He made the statement on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja.

Kemi Badenoch Just Shut Kier Starmer
The Subi Shop


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRC2xsNn_w?si=fSWwxRJzK2eEfQBe

Kemi Badenoch LOSES IT In Heated Exchange With Rachel Reeves!
The London Pulse


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkPqybdOhMA?si=4_EAXxXdakWdQ6_d

I Have Nothing In Common With 'Boko Haram' Northern Nigeria – UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch Replies Vice-President Shettima

December 13, 2024
NEWS

Badenoch expressed that she feels little connection to northern Nigeria, which she described as a "haven for Islamism and Boko Haram."

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom's Conservative Party, has stated that she identifies more with her Yoruba heritage than with Nigeria as a whole.

In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch expressed that she feels little connection to northern Nigeria, which she described as a "haven for Islamism and Boko Haram."

“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba),” she remarked.

“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is,” she added.

Her comments have drawn significant backlash from many Nigerians, including high-profile figures.

Among her critics is Nigeria’s vice-president, Kashim Shettima, who recently told Badenoch she could change her name if she wished to disassociate from Nigeria, calling it the “greatest black nation on earth.”

Despite the criticism, Badenoch has doubled down on her stance, asserting that her true identity lies in her Yoruba roots.

She added, "Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that’s what I see myself as doing.”

She further emphasised, “I am here to protect and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there.”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/10/you-can-remove-kemi-your-name-vp-shettima-accuses-uk-party-leader-badenoch-denigrating

Meanwhile, Saharareporters earlier reported that Vice President, Kashim Shettima, accused Kemi of disparaging her country of origin, Nigeria.

He had made the statement on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja.

Shettima said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.”

He further added, “She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria.”

The Vice President highlighted Nigeria’s significance on the world stage, stating, “One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian and by 2050, Nigeria will support the United States, and will be the third most populous nation on earth.”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/13/i-have-nothing-common-boko-haram-northern-nigeria-uk-party-leader-kemi-badenoch-replies

I Have Nothing In Common With 'Boko Haram' Northern Nigeria – UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch Replies Vice-President Shettima.

Kemi Badenoch Replies Shettima…


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S71CPaLkuio?si=8jfDdaToKUJmw_EY

Kemi Badenoch Just Got ROASTED By Nigeria's Vice President
The Subi Shop
Dec 13, 2024


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUz64ZMLB38

Nigeria Is Very Poor Country, Police Steal From Citizens, Stole My Brother’s Shoes, Wristwatch — UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/IMG_9153.jpeg
December 15, 2024
News

The Nigerian-British opposition Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has described Nigeria as a "very poor country" where people do anything including the police stealing from the helpless people.

Badenoch, who had sparked a recent controversy with her comments on her Nigerian identity, said she trusts the British police more than the Nigerian police.

Badenoch in an interview with The Free Press, which is making the rounds on social media said she had several negative experiences with the Nigerian police, including when the police stole her brother’s shoes and wristwatch, but her experiences with the British police had been positive.

During the interview, Badenoch, who was asked if she trusted the British police, 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.”

SaharaReporters had reported that Badenoch stated that she identifies more with her Yoruba heritage than with Nigeria as a whole.

[color=orange]SEE ALSO[/color]
Nigerians In UK Divided Over New Conservative Leader, Kemi Badenoch's Policy Stance https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/small_card_/public/2024-11/Kemi%20Badenoch_0.jpeg
Nov 12, 2024

In an interview with The Spectator, Badenoch had expressed that she feels little connection to northern Nigeria, which she described as a "haven for Islamism and Boko Haram."

“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba),” she had remarked.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Badenoch, who had sparked a recent controversy with her comments on her Nigerian identity, said she trusts the British police more than the Nigerian police.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWFVxg6X1qw?si=-UgBhgHqAD2jKzEE

Kemi Badenoch: 'Yoruba Nation' Agitator Sunday Igboho Asks Tinubu To Caution VP Shettima Over Verbal Attacks

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December 15, 2024
News

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to stop making further verbal attacks on the British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch.

Igboho made the call in a statement he personally signed and issued on Sunday, while responding to remarks made by Shettima regarding Badenoch, who had earlier criticised corruption in Nigeria which sparked controversy across the country.

Badenoch, a Nigerian-British woman of Yoruba descent had also distanced herself from being associated with Northern Nigeria.

In the statement, Igboho asked President Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong by speaking out on corruption, a major barrier to Nigeria’s development.

Igboho stated, “It is the responsibility of President Bola Tinubu, who shares the Yoruba heritage, to direct Shettima to focus on his vice-presidential duties instead of engaging in verbal confrontations with Badenoch.

“She simply voiced her candid and honest opinion about the widespread corruption in Nigeria’s system.”

He drew a parallel to the previous administration, saying, “Under President Muhammadu Buhari, no one dared attack the Fulani ethnic group without consequences.

“As a result of my protests against the destruction of farmlands, killings, and sexual violence by Fulani herders during Buhari’s tenure, security agents, on his orders, stormed my home on July 1, 2021, killing two and arresting 13 others.”

Igboho also criticised the Nigerian government for failing to address the pressing issues facing Nigerians, such as economic hardship, poverty, kidnappings, and insecurity.

Instead of addressing these challenges, he said, Shettima was directing his energy towards attacking Badenoch.

“Most Nigerians are enduring severe poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains clueless in addressing these issues.

“Instead of focusing on alleviating the suffering of the people, the Vice President is preoccupied with targeting Badenoch,” he remarked.

Igboho added, “When did it become wrong for someone to openly express their views about the corruption that has hindered Nigeria’s progress? Badenoch, proudly identifying as Yoruba, has not committed any offence.

“The Vice President should focus on his duties instead of pursuing trivial matters.”

He therefore urged President Tinubu to step in and ensure that Shettima refrains from further unnecessary attacks on Badenoch, emphasising the importance of prioritising the responsibilities of his office.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

Igboho asked President Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong by speaking out on corruption, a major barrier to Nigeria’s development.

Leave Kemi Badenoch alone
Dr Kemi Lawrence


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQs8q5p7GsU

Yoruba Youth Leaders Condemn Nigerian Vice President Shettima’s Call For Kemi Badenoch To Drop Her Yoruba Name

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/sr%20file%20%2897%29_0.png
December 16, 2024
NEWS

Yoruba Nation youth leaders have commended Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, for her stance against entrenched corruption in Nigeria’s governance.

The leaders also praised her vocal opposition to the violent acts perpetrated by herdsmen and Boko Haram, which include kidnappings and attacks targeting Yoruba communities in the Southwest.

In a joint statement issued by Prophet Ayodele Ologunloluwa and Comrade Oyegunle Oluwamayowa Omotoyole, the youth leaders expressed their support for Badenoch, hailing her as a courageous voice for justice and integrity.

They particularly acknowledged her advocacy for greater accountability and her commitment to stating the challenges faced by Nigeria, including insecurity and corruption.

The group firmly rejected a recent suggestion by Nigeria’s Vice President that Badenoch should remove "Kemi" from her name, which reflects her Yoruba heritage.

"Her name is a source of pride for all Yoruba people, and any attempt to undermine it is unacceptable," it said.

The leaders urged Yoruba youths to rally behind figures like Badenoch, who exemplify integrity and serve as role models for future generations.

They reiterated their commitment to safeguarding Yoruba interests and called for a united front against all forms of violence and injustice in the region.

The statement read, "We express our unwavering support for Kemi Badenoch, a distinguished member of the Conservative Party in the UK. We commend her courageous stance against the entrenched corruption within Nigeria's governance, particularly in relation to the threats posed by Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram, who have perpetrated heinous acts of violence, including kidnapping against our Yoruba people in the Southwest.

"We stand in solidarity with Kemi Badenoch as she strives to illuminate these pressing issues and advocate for the safety and protection of our community.”

It said, "We wish to convey a firm message to Vice President Kashim Shettima: it is imperative that you redirect your focus to the urgent concerns that afflict our nation. The deteriorating economy, rampant kidnappings, ineffective leadership, and systemic injustice require your immediate attention.

“Instead of pursuing distractions, they urged Shettima to champion meaningful solutions that serve the interests of the Nigerian populace.

"We implore you to cease critiques of Kemi Badenoch, as her observations resonate with the stark realities faced by our people. As a proud daughter of Yoruba heritage, she stands in solidarity with our cause and has no allegiance to the violent narratives fostered by extremist groups, including Boko Haram.

"Furthermore, we unequivocally reject the recent suggestion from the Vice President that Kemi Badenoch should remove "Kemi" from her name. "Kemi" is not merely a name; it is a cherished representation of our Yoruba identity and heritage. This situation underscores the deep cultural and linguistic divides that exist between the Yoruba and Northern communities."

They explained that the differences mark the challenges to their coexistence as a singular nation.

The Yoruba Nation celebrates its unique identity and remains steadfast in advocating for our cultural dignity and integrity.

"As members of the Yoruba Nation Youth, we call for mutual respect and understanding. It is time to acknowledge our distinct identities while working towards a collective future that honours each of our cultures.

"We are committed to fostering dialogue and cooperation, with the hope of uniting our great nation in ways that respect our diverse heritages," the statement said.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

The leaders also praised her vocal opposition to the violent acts perpetrated by herdsmen and Boko Haram, which include kidnappings and attacks targeting Yoruba communities in the Southwest.

Yoruba Union Backs UK Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, Condemns Nigerian Police Misconduct Under IGP Egbetokun

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/1215202475211_img_6412.jpeg
December 16, 2024
NEWS

The Yoruba Union, known as Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá, has thrown its support behind Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, following her recent comments about the Nigerian Police.

The Union commended Badenoch for shedding light on what it described as systemic misconduct by the police force.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá highlighted such abuses involving the Nigerian Police, including the reported abduction of Yoruba activists Dele Farotimi and Olamide Thomas, a nurse, who were allegedly transported from Lagos to Abuja under the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi.

The Union accused Egbetokun, whose tenure is over, of exploiting his position to harass and intimidate Yoruba citizens while neglecting critical security issues.

“Under his leadership, kidnappings and killings have escalated across the South-West, leaving Yoruba communities vulnerable and fearful,” the group said.

They further condemned the Inspector General's alleged silence and inaction on widespread criminal activities in the region, described his tenure as a period of systemic abuse and impunity.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday by the General Secretary, Olugbenga Olotu, who said: "The Yoruba are known as Omoluabi, but a few corrupt individuals are trying to tarnish the heritage and legacy that our forefathers laid down.

"We, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá, will not sit idly by and allow some people, who always use the left hand to point to their father's house, to destroy what our ancestors have built. As Kemi Badenoch rightly said, she is Yoruba before anything else, and that shows the true spirit of an Omoluabi in her.

"We recall how Vice President Kashim Shettima, during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, rehabilitated Boko Haram terrorists and reintegrated them into society. A man who negotiated with terrorists dares to criticize our daughter for speaking out against the ills of Nigerian society."

"If anyone needs to change their name, it is definitely Shettima who should renounce his citizenship and return to Niger Republic," said Olotu.

Olotu added, "People like Shettima should be ashamed of themselves. What he needs to understand is that Yorubas are not cowards, and no amount of money can buy their conscience. They are well-trained, educated, and exposed. They travel across the globe and contribute positively to their societies.

"Yoruba children are not raised to become terrorists. They are raised to be educated, respectful, and courageous—not cowards.
"Shettima, a shameless man, remained silent when the Nigerian Police maltreated minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests. These poor minors were malnourished, yet he never spoke about the disgrace the Nigerian Police brought to the country with the way they handled those minors.

"Was Shettima blind when the Nigerian Police killed innocent people during the #EndBadGovernance protests? Or is he unaware of how trigger-happy policemen killed students in Ilorin? Why is he coming after Kemi Badenoch now?"

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá warned the Vice President to stop harassing their daughter and urged him to focus on his Almajiri people, who are being used by terrorists he allegedly rehabilitates to launch attacks in his region.

According to the group, the Nigerian Police have become tools in the hands of politicians, subjecting themselves to public ridicule. Instead of upholding the law, they are the same organization violating it and using their offices to frustrate innocent Nigerians.

The union further stressed that Kayode Egbetokun has turned state police spokespersons into attack dogs, defending indefensible actions.
Referring to Kemi Badenoch's remarks about the Nigerian Police stealing her brother’s shoes and wristwatch, they said, "It is a shame to the Nigerian Police."

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Abiodun Olumide Thomas. The lady has not committed any offence. Why did Kayode Egbetokun send his officers to abduct her from Lagos to Abuja? This act further confirms what Kemi Badenoch said about the Nigerian Police.

"We want all Yorubas worldwide to take note and have it on record that people like Kayode Egbetokun and Muyiwa Adejobi are misusing their positions as Nigeria Police officers to oppress Yoruba people in the country. They abducted Dele Farotimi, and now Abiodun Olumide Thomas. This will be a lasting record for their children and grandchildren to know how their fathers abused their positions of power against humanity.

"Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá will not stand by idly. We will petition embassies worldwide to deny visas to those involved in abducting our people, including their children.

Olotu also stated that the Union would write to the United Nations to report how Egbetokun and his associates are abusing their offices to torment the Yoruba people.

"We condemn Egbetokun's abuse of power and disregard for human rights. We strongly demand the immediate and unconditional release of both Dele Farotimi and Abiodun Olumide Thomas," he added.

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

The Union commended Badenoch for shedding light on what it described as systemic misconduct by the police force.

Most Africans are always happy with government handouts. Kemi Badenoch does not believe is such scheme hence she is tagged "Sell-out". Africans are not respected because of naivety.

Keir Starmer EXPOSED By Kemi Badenoch | PMQs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xxtmdkptZI?si=nhtpyFZBQhamgQdz

Kemi Badenoch Was Right: Nigerian Police Stole My Phone In 2019, By Elias Ozikpu

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_1300x650/public/2024-12/IMG_9153.jpeg
December 18, 2024
Elias Ozikpu
OPINION

As for the Nigerian police, it has to be completely revamped, and then its officers retrained all over again, with heavy consequences in the event that ethical codes are violated.

British politician Kemi Badenoch recently became a subject of fierce attacks by officials of the Nigerian government for continuing her criticism of Nigeria’s crumbled and utterly corrupt system.

Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, when the Conservative Party leader said, ‘Nigeria is a very poor country’ where people do all sorts to survive. Kemi was right and wrong at the same time, depending on your perspective on this matter. Personally, my understanding is that Nigeria isn’t necessarily a poor country as she put it, but the pervasive poverty in the country is man-made—created and entrenched by political officeholders who have done nothing but privatise public wealth since independence in 1960. So, contrary to Kemi’s submission, Nigeria is a wealthy country, but that wealth appears to be the ‘birthright’ of the political class alone! Except you are a politician, you will never enjoy Nigeria’s immense wealth, nor will you enjoy the benefits of being a Nigerian citizen, if any exist. Even your fundamental human rights, which are inherent, are taken from you if you are not amongst the political class in Nigeria.

The second remark that irked Nigerian officials was her submission that the Nigerian police once stole her brother’s wristwatch and shoes. It is not clear why this should get officials worked up, especially with daily reports of the infamous activities of some officers of our police force. Whilst I know absolutely nothing about the theft of the shoes and wristwatch belonging to Kemi’s brother, I can tell authoritatively that I have been a victim of the robbery of officers of the Nigerian Police. During the #RevolutionNow protest in Lagos, which took place on August 5, 2019, I was arbitrarily arrested, and my phone, an HTC Desire 10 Pro, was snatched from me by a police officer. The press captured him holding the phone whilst dragging me to get locked up in a waiting Black Maria. All the police officers present at the scene saw him snatch the phone, but none of them asked him to return it. Whilst I was being prepared for detention, the police did not record the phone as part of my belongings despite my insistence that they do so.

Lawyer and human rights activist Inibehe Effiong took up the case at the time and petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, asking him to investigate the robbery of his officers and ensured my phone was recovered and returned to me. When we were invited in respect of the petition, the police told us that it was impossible for them to identify the officer who snatched my phone. They asked me to go and find out from the journalists who captured the officer holding the phone he had forcefully taken from me. That was how that case ended. They didn’t know their own officer, but they expected journalists to. Incredible!

So, it is a curious thing to me that government officials should be infuriated because someone talked about the notorious activities of officers of the Nigeria Police. The truth will always remain what it is; it never changes nor dies. Nigeria will never get better with its officials deliberately working to conceal a stinking decay already known throughout the world, nor will the country get better by expecting impoverished citizens to do false PR in the face of the economic oppression they have been subjected to for approximately 70 years as an independent nation. Nigeria will only get better if political officeholders respect citizens and ensure that the nation’s wealth is justly and equally distributed in a way that puts a permanent end to the monopolisation of public wealth by political officeholders.

As for the Nigerian police, it has to be completely revamped, and then its officers retrained all over again, with heavy consequences in the event that ethical codes are violated. This will avoid incidents such as the ones that led to the eruption of the #EndSARS protests in 2020. If Nigerian officials expect positive remarks about the system they preside over, these steps must be taken, along with the equal distribution of public wealth. Until then, international embarrassments about the true Nigerian situation will not cease. Of course, through their trigger-happy uniformed men and women, Nigerian officials are adept at silencing those within for criticising the chaotic system they have vehemently refused to fix. But what will they do to the Kemis who do so from several miles away? What will they do to the likes of David Cameron, who famously said, Nigeria is ‘fantastically corrupt’? In the end, it becomes clear that fixing the country is the only solution, not intimidating, arresting, and detaining critics and unarmed protesters and slamming them with laughable charges of treason.

Nigeria’s political officeholders must do what is right, or they will spend their tenure defending the indefensible, thereby making themselves a laughing stock locally and internationally. You cannot impose respect; you must earn it.

Elias Ozikpu is a novelist, dramatist, and journalist.

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Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, when the Conservative Party leader said, ‘Nigeria is a very poor country’ where people do all sorts to survive. Kemi was right and wrong at the same time, depending on your perspective on this matter.