₦airaland Forum

The Presidency has fired back at British Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her claim that she cannot pass Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman, calling the assertion false and urging the UK to send her “home for a proper re-education.”

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, took to his X handle on Monday to challenge Badenoch’s statement, made during a CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria.

He said her remarks misrepresented Nigerian law and demanded an apology.

“Kemi Badenoch lied. She owes her fatherland some apology,” Onanuga wrote. “Britain should send our lost daughter Kemi Badenoch home for a proper re-education.”

The presidential aide cited Section 25 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which clearly states that anyone born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either parent is a Nigerian citizen, regardless of gender.

“Section 25 of our constitution defines who has the right to Nigerian citizenship… Every person born outside Nigeria, either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria,” Onanuga stated, quoting directly from the law.

Badenoch, born in the UK to Nigerian parents, had argued in the CNN interview that her children could not obtain Nigerian citizenship through her because of her gender.

“It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she claimed.

Onanuga praised Nigerian-British lawyer and political activist Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu for correcting Badenoch publicly and called her intervention “enlightening.”

Badenoch, who spent part of her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, is married to a Scottish banker and has three children.

monarck:
Medicine after death.

What Kemi said is exactly the way it is. Not long ago we saw a video of a white man complaining that he couldn't get Nigerian citizenship after marrying a Nigerian woman for over 15 years but that a Nigerian man can easily pass citizenship to a foreign woman he marries.

My question is: Why would someone even need Nigerian citizenship?

aribisala0:
This is disgraceful and unprofessional

This is not a matter for the presidency at all
We have an ambassador, a foreign minister whose jobs it is to deal with this professionally
Not in this uncouth and emotional way

In any team everyone should know their role

This is just a case of redundant appointees trying to justify their appointment

Small people take everything personal

The professional thing to do would be for the Nigerian High Commission in London to deal with it. That is their responsibility
The could write her a professional and polite letter explaining the facts
There is no need for confrontation or to make it personal

We see how ambassadors move in Nigeria.
What is the Nigerian High Commission doing?

monarck:
Medicine after death.

What Kemi said is exactly the way it is. Not long ago we saw a video of a white man complaining that he couldn't get Nigerian citizenship after marrying a Nigerian woman for over 15 years but that a Nigerian man can easily pass citizenship to a foreign woman he marries.

My question is: Why would someone even need Nigerian citizenship?

Racoon:
Kemi Benedoch is a grumpy snitch but that does not make the current irresponsible and irredeemable wicked government a moralist.

aribisala0:
This is disgraceful and unprofessional

This is not a matter for the presidency at all
We have an ambassador, a foreign minister whose jobs it is to deal with this professionally
Not in this uncouth and emotional way

In any team everyone should know their role

This is just a case of redundant appointees trying to justify their appointment

Small people take everything personal

The professional thing to do would be for the Nigerian High Commission in London to deal with it. That is their responsibility
The could write her a professional and polite letter explaining the facts
There is no need for confrontation or to make it personal

We see how ambassadors move in Nigeria.
What is the Nigerian High Commission doing?

Commentor:
She is the leader of the major opposition in UK, and her opinion holds weight amongst the uninformed.

If the Orange one himself (come to think of it, he's not the sharpest) can weigh in on ridiculous matters, i don't think this is too shallow to overlook.

Maxymilliano:
https://tribuneonlineng.com/send-kemi-badenoch-home-for-proper-education-presidency-tells-uk/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLsPNBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhNfacFXb79EN2RiTAQadVbsqD8S92sILjZeCwx4aFDPwzWv3GdePGGlCJ9p_aem_OaHkHXjCuvgm35hJHLAtLQ

monarck:
Medicine after death.

What Kemi said is exactly the way it is. Not long ago we saw a video of a white man complaining that he couldn't get Nigerian citizenship after marrying a Nigerian woman for over 15 years but that a Nigerian man can easily pass citizenship to a foreign woman he marries.

My question is: Why would someone even need Nigerian citizenship?

Treasure17:
Nigeria must have did Kemi extremely bad to be this vocal against Nigeria. Sometimes justified though. We know the reactor will always react to every everything. Someone who lack education wants to re educate Kemi. Mtcheeew.