Presidency berates UK conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over comments about Nigeria

The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, about her upbringing in Nigeria, labelling them as a “cock and bull story.”

Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu criticized Badenoch for her comments, which included claims that corruption and insecurity in Nigeria overshadowed her childhood. Ajayi accused Badenoch of fabricating her narrative to fit a political agenda.

Badenoch, who has Nigerian roots, previously made headlines in 2022 when she criticized Nigerian politicians for misusing public funds.

She also recounted personal experiences in Nigeria, including claims of police misconduct and inadequate access to clean water during her time at the International School Lagos (ISL).

Reacting via social media, Ajayi described Badenoch’s allegations as false and misleading.

“Her story of carrying a desk and chair to class at ISL didn’t add up. Her claim that she had no clean water to drink was complete baloney for a girl who grew up in an upper-middle-class family—her mother a university professor and her father a successful medical doctor,” Ajayi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

He further questioned Badenoch’s integrity, asserting that her narrative was riddled with inconsistencies.

Ajayi dismissed her claims of police misconduct involving her brother as potentially fabricated, adding that her upbringing in a privileged Nigerian household undermines the picture of hardship she painted.

The presidency also criticized Badenoch’s refusal to engage with Nigeria’s Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) after her election, suggesting that her comments and actions reflect a deliberate attempt to distance herself from her Nigerian heritage.

Badenoch’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding her for highlighting issues in Nigeria and others accusing her of exaggerating for political gain.