Nigerians react as Kemi Badenoch lashes Nigeria Police force for robing her brother’s shoes, watch
Kemi Badenoch, UK business secretary, on the day two of the UK Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, UK, on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is trying to reset the political narrative a year or so out from a general election. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images
British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has reignited discussions about her views on Nigeria, sharing another critical reflection on her past encounters with Nigerian law enforcement.
In an interview with The Free Press, which gained traction on Saturday, Badenoch contrasted her negative experiences with the Nigerian police with the positive impression she formed of their British counterparts.
“I do [trust the British police]. My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive,” Badenoch stated. Reflecting on her time in Nigeria, she added, “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.”
Her statements have sparked both criticism and support, with some viewing her comments as a necessary spotlight on systemic issues, while others see them as overly critical of her country of origin.
Reacting to the controversial video, Reno Omokri noted that the decision of the Conservative leader to bad-mouth Nigeria is an unintelligent political move that may come back to hunt her.
He said: “Kemi Badenoch bad-mouthing Nigeria is just an unintelligent political move. You have already won the Conservative Party leadership contest. You are now the party leader. Your position is secure. You do not need to schmooze the British establishment by disdaining your Black African roots, even if you are married to a White Briton.”
Dr. Flavien Shirandi.,PhD rremarked that she can be forced to apologize if Nigeria ‘pushed harder’. He said “OMG This interview will create her a problem, if Nigerian pushed harder, she will be forced to apologize. Police in Nigeria robes you .. And she added that Nigeria is a poor country… Well let see,” he said.
On his part, @JustFaysal_argued that “Kemi Badenoch’s statement highlights the unfortunate reality of police misconduct and the struggles many face in Nigeria due to systemic issues. While her comment may feel harsh to some, it’s important to use such remarks as a starting point for constructive dialogue about the pressing need for reform and accountability. Nigeria is rich in culture, resources, and potential, but corruption and mismanagement have left many disillusioned. It’s not about labeling the country as poor but addressing the deep-rooted challenges that lead to such actions. True progress will come when these systems are overhauled, and the people are empowered to demand better governance and justice.”
@Ceorhemz called for an inward review and fix-up of the country. He posited that Badenoch “hated everything Nigerian so much based on her experiences here that she just decided to marry a White man. She doesn’t want any affiliation with Nigeria. There are many Nigerians abroad that don’t want to have anything to do with this country anymore based on their experiences here. We really need to fix up.”
