₦airaland Forum

British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, who has been in the eye of the storm over controversial statements about Nigeria, once sought the help of people from the West African country to secure her parliamentary seat, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Badenoch (nee Adegoke) had in 2010 sought the support of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom in her bid to win a seat in the British parliament.

A campaign document which has been making the rounds on social media showed that during her campaign for Dulwich and West Norwood, she reached out to Nigerians while highlighting her roots.

She particularly pledged to uplift the image of the country through her position in the British political system.

In a message to her Nigerian supporters, Badenoch said, “I need your help. I’m running for parliament in the 2010 UK general elections. The race is very tight. Last year, a survey was carried out in this constituency by the News of the World and the forecast was that I would win. This year, things are a lot tougher as the party has dropped nationally in the polls. I need your help.

“In a recent BBC interview, a caller insulted me because I’m Yoruba. I was very disappointed that a Nigerian woman who claimed to have lived in London for 45 years had issues with me being Yoruba than with my political views and shamefully made her comments on national radio.

“We really need to get out of this mindset where we are fighting one another and try and support each other instead. Regardless of party allegiance, a Nigerian in parliament winning purely on merit and not because of her relatives or by buying the election will be amazing.”

She lamented that her generation had suffered enough from the mistakes of the past and it was time to retell the story.

“So I am asking for your help now to support a Nigerian who is trying to improve our national image and do something great here,” she added.

However, the UK-born Badenoch after winning the election, deployed her experiences in Nigeria, as a talking point to rally support for her policies.

She has been accused of exploiting her roots for political gains.

While in the race to succeed former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022, Badenoch lambasted Nigerian politicians for polluting the environment with degradation.

She said, “I grew up in Nigeria, and I saw firsthand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their private piggy banks.”

“I saw what socialism is for millions. I saw poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.”

Also, in one of the interviews she had with the British media, she said she did not want the UK to experience what made her flee Nigeria.

“This is my country…I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from. I want it to get better and better, not just for me, but for the next generation,” she said.

Nigerians in the diaspora, including former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, accused Badenoch of using her Nigerian background when convenient and distancing herself when it suited her political ambitions.

Omokri, on his X page, gave instances when the UK disowned Nigerians during their downtimes, but embraced them at their best.

“Mrs Badenoch may want to acquaint herself with the case of former British star footballer, John Fashanu. When he was the darling of the football-loving Brits, he was called British, and he did not associate with Nigeria,” he said.

Also, Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue, stated that she had the right to express her opinions but could not diminish the value of the country.

In response, Badenoch’s spokesperson reaffirmed that she stood by her words.

“She is the leader of the opposition, and she is very proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country. She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She’s not going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says,” the spokesperson said.

Source: https://punchng.com/how-kemi-badenoch-used-nigerian-roots-to-become-british-mp/

Typical dirty betrayer and traitor.

She collected money and support from the UK Nigerian community to achieve her position, promising them heaven and earth.

Now it has turned to “It’s not my job to be Nigeria’s PR”.

Disgusting person.

This woman really do Ronu people strong thing see wailing everywhere no sane Nigerian will associate with Ronu ideology una go wail tire.
Aunty kemi is a logical thinker influenced by the sane clime she grew up in,any sane person knows the solution to Nigeria is division and yes she is a divisionist or separatist take that anywhere.

What's all the hullabaloo cum balablu about Kemi romancing with her Nigerian roots?

If she doesn't want to openly fraternise with the Nigerian government or the state of failure which these people brought upon us, why wouldn't they let her be?

Is it by force to identify with thieves and scoundrels all cos of national ties?.... Is there anything she's said about the Nigerian government which isn't true?

The desperate 'attachee by force' mentality is now embarrassing!

That woman that called her and lambasted her for being Yoruba can't be from anywhere else but from that bitter, backward tribe from the evil forest region. Their wailing and bitterness is generational.

Every paper must sell. Kemi is now the source of online traffic for news media and bloggers.

Topman7:
Typical dirty betrayer and traitor.
.

Is she not from SW Nigeria? What do expect.

Make una rest na. I really don't understand what the argument is all about. Is it that she lied or she should not have spoken the truth because it paints the country in bad light?

How I wish there are still more people like this woman dey to show gullible naija people and government pepper,so hard truth dey pain Una like this.I been dey think say una no get head and brain to hear undiluted hard truth.now I know una dey listen just that corruption and greed no make una want to do what is right .see reaction and replies as he full ground

You guys should free this lady

Is not by force to identify with Tinubu's government

She remains a Yoruba daughter

Brenbentondiaz:
That woman that called her and lambasted her for being Yoruba can't be from anywhere else but from that bitter, backward tribe from the evil forest region. Their wailing and bitterness is generational.

Presido11 and Topman7 see the comment above and you will understand that everybody don know una well.

On top the Topic matter, Abeg make everybody leave Kemi to enjoy herself joor.

Kemi is stupid and it’s obvious she undermined the population and power of votes the Nigerians and Africans at large have in the UK. She thought going against her root will fetch her more love amongst her Caucasian superior masters but she obviously miscalculated.

She started by denigrating the people that work as support workers, to claiming the European nation did no harm during colonization and slave trade. And now, rubbishing her country of origin.

She already dug the pit of her downfall and I’m sure she is gradually falling inside it.

She will come around soon

APC - Shettima/bokoharam paid media agents make una leave this woman alone. She seek the Nigerian community living in the UK for support, no be una papa wey live for village supported her

I don't understand why Nigeria is forcing herself on this lady. If she doesn't want to identify with you, leave her alone. How difficult can that be?

E dey blood. Betrayal and unfaithfulness are their trademarks.

“In a recent BBC interview, a caller insulted me because I’m Yoruba. I was very disappointed that a Nigerian woman who claimed to have lived in London for 45 years had issues with me being Yoruba than with my political views and shamefully made her comments on national radio.

This is why she has no regard for Nigeria but for her own tribe in Nigeria.

She, was hated on by her so-called country person.

We are not gonna see an end to this topic

Leave the lady alone. Period!

Leave her the fvck alone!!!

😡

Serial betrayer.
. E just dey for their body

What's the obsession about her about? People should let the young lady breath abeg

She's an arrogant little lady.

Goodmarlian:
This woman really do Ronu people strong thing see wailing everywhere no sane Nigerian will associate with Ronu ideology una go wail tire.
Aunty kemi is a logical thinker influenced by the sane clime she grew up in,any sane person knows the solution to Nigeria is division and yes she is a divisionist or separatist take that anywhere.

What exactly is your business with Yoruba affairs? . Children of hate who have made it their life long ambition to hate and be obsessed with Yoruba matter.

You can’t survive without Yorubas hence your obsession. We do understand though, you can only be obsessed with what is bigger than you and what you aspire to be.

Keep at it. Your existence depends on it. Pathetic lots

Make una free this woman na...

Topman7:
Typical dirty betrayer and traitor.

She collected money and support from the UK Nigerian community to achieve her position, promising them heaven and earth.

Now it has turned to “It’s not my job to be Nigeria’s PR”.

Disgusting person.

You can go and take sniper and die

In ur dirty bloodline, there's no greatness as such as this woman

Sincerely, our leaders are the cause. Success has many friends while failure is lonely.

Which one is this focus on this lady for goodness sake, are we this shameless? She say she no do, we say she must do, no be juju be dat?
Haba, leave her to face the country she chose. Our politicians should rather work to fix the mess they made so people will be proud to associate themselves with Nigeria.

Great100000:
Source: https://punchng.com/how-kemi-badenoch-used-nigerian-roots-to-become-british-mp/

Fenu wu gate

She's Yoruba first

She is right. She is Yoruba before being a Nigerian. Nigeria is just a geographical area with different tribes and ethnic groups lumped together.

I support Chimamanda's statement below too.

We should stop forcing Nigeria on people
If these two women were in Nigeria, they would likely not rise to the peak of their careers.

presido11:
Is she not from SW Nigeria? What do expect.

So where is Chimamanda from?

Kemi done expose una and una dey vex