By Abiola Olawale
Elderstatesman, renowned Nigerian international affairs scholar and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, in a strongly worded statement, has warned that the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, will soon learn her lessons.
Akinyemi, a foremost Professor of Political Science, who once served as Director General of the prestigious Nigerian Insitite of International Affsirs(NIIA) stated that Badenoch, who is Nigeria-raised, is not meant to throw her people and her country under the bus for whatever reason.
Akinyemi who is a very distinguished figure in the field of international relations and former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), maintained that Badenoch was making a significant error by publicly disparaging Nigeria on the international front.
The former Minister, who spoke during an interview session with Channels Television’s Politics Today, further maintained that the UK Conservative party leader should leave Nigeria out of her radar and focus on strengthening her party in Britain.
He stated: “How the daughter of a professor of UNILAG, her father who was a medical doctor, a girl who went to the international school at UNILAG would make it sound like she was selling groundnut and selling water in Lagos to advance her political career.
“She would soon learn that you don’t throw your people and your culture under the bus to advance your career. She is making a mistake but she would soon learn.
“After all, right now, there is even Right Wing political party in the United Kingdom that is even to the right of the Conservative Party. So, what she should be focusing on is how to regain that rightwing profile of the Conservative Party and leave Nigeria alone.”
This comes after several instances where Badenoch had openly criticized successive Nigerian governments and leaders.
Before she was elected leader of the Tories, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.
In a separate interview, she accused the Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother’s shoes.
She has also hinted at walking miles to get water while she lived in Nigeria despite having wealthy parents.
These remarks have stirred controversy, particularly in Nigeria, where political figures like Vice President Kashim Shettima have criticized her for what they perceive as denigrating her country of origin. This has led to spat, with some in Nigeria suggesting that her comments betray a lack of pride in her Nigerian heritage, while others see her statements as an honest reflection of her personal experiences.
