British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, who has been in the eye of the storm over controversial statements about Nigeria, once sought the help of people from the West African country to secure her parliamentary seat.
Badenoch (nee Adegoke) had in 2010 sought the support of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom in her bid to win a seat in the British parliament.
A campaign document which has been making the rounds on social media showed that during her campaign for Dulwich and West Norwood, she reached out to Nigerians while highlighting her roots.
She particularly pledged to uplift the image of the country through her position in the British political system.
In a message to her Nigerian supporters, Badenoch said, “I need your help. I’m running for parliament in the 2010 UK general elections. The race is very tight. Last year, a survey was carried out in this constituency by the News of the World and the forecast was that I would win. This year, things are a lot tougher as the party has dropped nationally in the polls. I need your help.
“In a recent BBC interview, a caller insulted me because I’m Yoruba. I was very disappointed that a Nigerian woman who claimed to have lived in London for 45 years had issues with me being Yoruba than with my political views and shamefully made her comments on national radio.
“We really need to get out of this mindset where we are fighting one another and try and support each other instead. Regardless of party allegiance, a Nigerian in parliament winning purely on merit and not because of her relatives or by buying the election will be amazing.”
She lamented that her generation had suffered enough from the mistakes of the past and it was time to retell the story.
“So I am asking for your help now to support a Nigerian who is trying to improve our national image and do something great here,” she added.
However, the UK-born Badenoch after winning the election, deployed her experiences in Nigeria, as a talking point to rally support for her policies.
She has been accused of exploiting her roots for political gains.
While in the race to succeed former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022, Badenoch lambasted Nigerian politicians for polluting the environment with degradation.
She said, “I grew up in Nigeria, and I saw firsthand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their private piggy banks.”
“I saw what socialism is for millions. I saw poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.”
Also, in one of the interviews she had with the British media, she said she did not want the UK to experience what made her flee Nigeria.
“This is my country…I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from. I want it to get better and better, not just for me, but for the next generation,” she said.
Nigerians in the diaspora, including former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, accused Badenoch of using her Nigerian background when convenient and distancing herself when it suited her political ambitions.
Omokri, on his X page, gave instances when the UK disowned Nigerians during their downtimes, but embraced them at their best.
“Mrs Badenoch may want to acquaint herself with the case of former British star footballer, John Fashanu. When he was the darling of the football-loving Brits, he was called British, and he did not associate with Nigeria,” he said.
Also, Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue, stated that she had the right to express her opinions but could not diminish the value of the country.
In response, Badenoch’s spokesperson reaffirmed that she stood by her words.
“She is the leader of the opposition, and she is very proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country. She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She’s not going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says,” the spokesperson said.
