Mixed Reactions as British-Nigerian woman emerges UK party leader

Nigerians are sharing mixed reactions following the election of British-Nigerian politician Kemi Badenoch as the new Conservative Party leader in the United Kingdom. Badenoch, who represents North West Essex as a Member of Parliament, defeated Robert Jenrick in the final voting round with 53,806 votes to Jenrick’s 41,388. Her victory marks a historic moment, as she becomes the first Black woman to lead a major UK political party.

While many Nigerians celebrated the 44-year-old’s achievement, some questioned the significance of her victory for the Black community and Nigerians abroad.

Celebrating her win, media entrepreneur Mo Abudu highlighted Badenoch’s success as proof of overcoming barriers and seizing one’s strengths. “Kemi’s journey reminds every woman and young girl that no dream is out of reach. Here’s to more stories of resilience, leadership, and making history,” Abudu said in an Instagram post.

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri also praised her election, calling it a historic achievement for Nigerians in the diaspora. “Mrs. Badenoch is the first person of African origin to hold this position, and her Nigerian roots make this a double celebration. This is the highest level a person of Nigerian heritage has reached in the Western hemisphere. I urge all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to support her,” he said.

Maxwell Adeyemi, a Nigerian living in Bradford, UK, echoed this call for unity and support for Badenoch.

Raised in Nigeria before moving back to the UK, Badenoch is the daughter of the late Mr. Femi Adegoke and Mrs. Feyi Adegoke. She recently drew criticism after describing Nigeria negatively in an election interview, saying, “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.”

This is not the first time Badenoch has faced backlash for her comments about Nigeria. Previously, she told the BBC, “I grew up somewhere where the lights didn’t come on, where we frequently ran out of fuel despite being an oil-producing country.” In 2020, she sparked further debate by defending British colonialism during discussions on the UK’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, stating, “The fact that colonialism happened does not mean that our modern history is tainted by it.”

Adeyemi, however, defended her stance, saying, “She only spoke the truth. Millions of lives, including those of people like Kemi Badenoch, have been affected by poor governance. She was fortunate to be born in the UK, but how many Nigerians have such opportunities? We shouldn’t blame her for speaking honestly.”