“We Reached Out to Kemi Badenoch, But She Didn’t Respond—We Won’t Force Her to Embrace Her Nigerian Identity,” Says Dabiri-Erewa

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has stated that the Nigerian government will not force Kemi Badenoch, the newly-elected leader of the UK Conservative Party, to publicly identify with her Nigerian heritage.

Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged that the Nigerian government had made efforts to engage with Badenoch about her Nigerian roots, but those efforts have not been reciprocated.

“We reached out to her once or twice, but there was no response,” Dabiri-Erewa explained. “We don’t force people to accept their Nigerian identity. If you embrace your Nigerian heritage and want to work with us, we are always open, but we cannot compel anyone to do so.”

She continued, “If you appreciate the Nigerianness in you and wish to collaborate with us, we welcome you. But we cannot force you to appreciate your roots. It’s ultimately up to Kemi to decide whether she identifies with Nigeria and wants to work with us.”

Dabiri-Erewa further noted that while some individuals may initially distance themselves from their Nigerian background, their heritage often remains undeniable. “You remember the Miss Universe Nigeria incident in South Africa. She only identified with Nigeria when she encountered problems there, and we welcomed her back when she returned. As long as that Nigerian blood runs through you, you remain Nigerian.”

Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian Yoruba parents in 1980, made history on November 2, 2024, by becoming the first Black leader of a major political party in the UK. Though she lived in Nigeria during her early years, Badenoch moved back to the UK at the age of 16, where she later pursued her political career.