You are making a mistake, you’ll soon learn– Former Minister slams Kemi Badenoch

You are making a mistake, you’ll soon learn– Former Minister slams Kemi Badenoch

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has sharply criticised Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, for her repeated negative comments about Nigeria.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, Akinyemi expressed deep disappointment over Badenoch’s portrayal of her upbringing in Nigeria and the disparaging remarks she has made about the country.

He particularly questioned her narrative, asking, “How can the daughter of a UNILAG professor — her father a medical doctor — who attended the international school at UNILAG, suggest she was selling groundnuts and water in Lagos to further her political career?”

Akinyemi called Badenoch’s statements a betrayal of her roots, saying, “She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and culture under the bus to advance your career.”

Badenoch, who has faced significant backlash in Nigeria for her comments, had previously described the country as corrupt and insecure, while highlighting the poverty she supposedly faced growing up in Lagos. She also made controversial remarks about Nigeria “destroying lives” and used her personal hardships as a warning against similar political environments in the UK.

In response, Akinyemi dismissed her narrative, urging her to focus on restoring the Conservative Party’s reputation rather than attacking her homeland.

He cautioned her against using Nigeria as a scapegoat for political gain, adding, “She is making a mistake, but she would soon learn.”