Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings after British-Nigerian politician, Kemi Badenoch, emerged as the new leader of the Conservative Party, defeating Robert Jenrick in the final round of voting. Badenoch, a Member of Parliament representing North West Essex, became the first black woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Badenoch secured 53,806 votes against Jenrick’s 41,388, in a result announced by the party on Saturday morning. Her achievement has sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some hailing her triumph and others expressing disappointment.
Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu praised Badenoch’s feat, saying it shows that no dream is out of reach. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri called it a “double celebration” due to Badenoch’s Nigerian roots. Maxwell Adeyemi, a Nigerian living in Bradford, UK, also called for support for Badenoch.
However, others criticize Badenoch’s past comments about Nigeria. She has made remarks about the country’s struggles with electricity and fuel, and even defended British colonialism. Some netizens on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) expressed disappointment, saying her comments were demeaning and showed a lack of pride in her Nigerian heritage.
Badenoch was born in the UK to late Mr. Femi Adegoke and Mrs. Feyi Adegoke, and was raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK. She recently irked a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, after she made a demeaning reference to Nigeria in the build-up to the election.
Adeyemi defended Badenoch’s comments, saying they were based on facts. “She only told the truth. Millions of lives of people, who are precious like that of Kemi Badenoch, have been wasted by the people entrusted with power.”
As the new leader of the Conservative Party, Badenoch faces the challenge of uniting her party and addressing the concerns of Nigerians and other critics. Her comments about Nigeria have sparked controversy, with some questioning her pride in her heritage. Despite this, Badenoch’s supporters see her achievement as a breakthrough for women and people of African origin.