Kemi Badenoch Criticizes Nigeria Again, Highlights Past Experiences with Nigerian Police
The leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch, has once again captured headlines with her outspoken criticism of the Nigerian system.
Badenoch, who has often sought to distance herself from her country of birth, Nigeria, recently found herself at odds with the nation’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima. PulseNets learnt that Shettima had previously remarked that no matter Badenoch’s views on Nigeria, she remains a Nigerian.
In a related development, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed to PulseNets that her office has made numerous attempts to contact Badenoch without success. This followed an alleged incident where Badenoch reportedly ignored overtures from NiDCOM. Speaking to PulseNets, Dabiri-Erewa expressed disappointment, noting that NiDCOM has been unable to establish a line of communication with the UK Conservative leader.
Reacting to these remarks, Badenoch told PulseNets that she is not interested in engaging in any form of public relations or image-building for Nigeria.
In a recent interview with the Free Press, Badenoch took a direct jab at the Nigeria Police Force, accusing officers of corruption. She claimed that members of the police had stolen from her family during her time in Nigeria.
When asked whether she trusts the British police, Badenoch responded affirmatively. She explained, “I do, but remember my experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive. You know, the police in Nigeria would rob us,” Badenoch said, laughing.
Continuing, she added, “So when people say that they have this bad experience, but they are black, well yeah, you know, I remember the police stole my brother’s shoes and his watch. Yeah, they took his shoes and his watch; it’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things, and giving people a gun is just license to intimidate.”
Contrasting her experiences, Badenoch told PulseNets that her interactions with the British police have been cordial and reassuring. “But that’s not the bar we should use for the British police, obviously; it should be much higher. But my experience was so positive. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there, very helpful. They eventually caught the person.”
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Reflecting on policing in general, Badenoch stated, “You see, 20 years ago, the police did catch the criminals, and now we’ve given them too much to do, in my view. So the police are the first line of defence in everything, and I think that burden would make it a lot harder for them to actually do the basics. And that’s another thing that we need to look at.”
PulseNets reported that Badenoch’s remarks continue to fuel debates on her relationship with Nigeria and her stance on public service.
