Renowned diplomat and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has expressed stern disapproval of Britain’s Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, for allegedly undermining Nigeria in her bid to gain political leverage. The political science luminary, who formerly helmed the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), cautioned that Badenoch’s strategy of disparaging her roots to elevate her stature will ultimately lead to regrettable consequences.
Speaking during an interview on a national television, Prof. Akinyemi did not mince words in his criticism of Badenoch, a UK politician of Nigerian descent. He described her actions as shortsighted, emphasizing the importance of embracing one’s heritage rather than forsaking it for political gain.
Akinyemi lambasted Badenoch for what he perceives as her misrepresentation of her Nigerian upbringing. “It is astounding that a woman whose father was a professor at UNILAG, whose mother was a medical doctor, and who attended the International School Lagos, would paint a picture suggesting she hawked groundnuts and water on the streets of Lagos to advance her political aspirations,” he remarked.
He continued, “She will soon realize the folly of casting aside her people and culture to curry favor. No political ambition is worth the betrayal of one’s heritage. Her current focus should be on reinvigorating the Conservative Party, particularly as a more extreme right-wing party has begun to emerge in the UK.”
The rebuke of Badenoch is not confined to Akinyemi. Days prior, Daniel Bwala, a presidential spokesperson, accused Badenoch of making calculated, disparaging remarks about Nigeria to solidify her standing within her party.
In December 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima also took issue with Badenoch’s derogatory comments, stating, “She is entitled to her opinions, but no one has granted her the liberty to discard the ‘Kemi’ from her name while disparaging the culture it represents.”
Badenoch’s political trajectory has been punctuated by moments of tension with her Nigerian heritage. In 2022, during her campaign for UK Prime Minister, she accused Nigerian politicians of diverting public funds for personal indulgences—a claim that drew significant backlash.
Following her ascent as Conservative Party leader in November 2024, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), under the leadership of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, reached out to Badenoch in an attempt to foster dialogue. However, according to Dabiri-Erewa, these overtures were met with silence.
For Prof. Akinyemi, Badenoch’s approach epitomizes a lack of foresight. He reiterated that seeking validation through the denigration of one’s homeland is not only counterproductive but also unsustainable. “History has shown time and again that a person who distances themselves from their origins to gain favor often ends up alienated from both their past and their present,” he concluded.
As Badenoch continues her leadership tenure, time will reveal whether her political calculations will yield success or serve as a cautionary tale of cultural alienation and its far-reaching implications.
