02-08-2025
I no dey identify as Nigerian again
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch say she no dey identify herself as Nigerian and she say, she never renew her passport since early 2000s.
Na UK Badenoch parent born her, but she grow up for both Nigeria and US. She return to England at di age of 16 because of Nigeria political and economic climate wahala, so she go back to continue her education.
For former MP and television presenter Gyls Brandreth Rosebud podcast, she say she be "Nigerian through my ancestors" but "by identity, I no really be Nigerian".
Last year, Nigeria vice-president bin criticise Badenoch, im say she dey "attack" di West African country.
Badenoch, wey bin live for Lagos, tok well-well about her upbringing for di podcast.
"I know di country very well, I get a lot of family dia, and I dey very interested for wetin dey hapun dia," she tok. "But home na wia my family dey now."
On dis issue of renewing her passport, she say: "I no dey identify wit am (she mean di Nigerian passport). Most of my life na for UK and I no tink say I need am."
She add say: "I be Nigerian through my ancestors, by birth, even though dem no born me dia, because of my parents... but by identity, not really."
Badenoch say wen she visit di country wen her father die, she bin need to get visa, according to her, di process "bin get as e bi".
She say her early experiences for Nigeria shape her political outlook, including "why I no like socialism".
As a child, "I remember say I no feel like say I belong dia", she tok as she add say "wen I come back to di UK for 1996, I feel say: dis na home".
Di Tory leader add put say di reason she bin return back to UK na "a very sad one".
"My parents bin reason am say: 'No future for you for dis country'."
She say she neva experience racial issue for UK "in any meaningful form", she add say: "I know say I dey go place wia I go look different to everybody, and I no tink say e dey odd.
"Wetin I find interesting na say di pipo no treat me differently, and na why I dey quick to defend di UK whenever di issue of racism come up."
At di end of last year, some pipo bin criticise Badenoch sake of wetin she tok say she bin grow up in fear and insecurity for Nigeria during di time wen di kontri bin dey face serious corruption issues.
Di country vice-president Kashim Shettima respond say im govment dey "proud" of Badenoch "in spite of her efforts to attack her nation of origin". Tok-tok pesin for Badenoch bin reject di criticism.
