By Abiola Olawale
The leader of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch, has made headlines again after maintaining that immigrants, including Nigerian immigrants, should not be allowed to apply for British citizenship after six years of stay in the UK.
Badenoch, who spoke with the BBC declared that there should be a rule that ensures that immigrants should only be able to apply for British citizenship after being in the UK for 15 years.
Badenoch, the Nigerian-British politician also said indefinite leave to remain, a policy that paves the way for citizenship, should not be enjoyed by individuals who have criminal records or who had claimed benefits or social housing.
According to her, those granted British citizenship should receive their accolades because of their “meaningful connection to the UK”.
She argued that too many people were getting citizenship through this route and that was “creating a strain on public services”.
She asserted: “We need to make sure that people coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK, so no criminal records, they should be net contributors to the economy, not relying on benefits but people who care about our country and our communities.”
She said she believes the policy would bring numbers down but would not say by how much.
It would be recalled that Badenoch has been making headlines in Nigeria over some of her comments.
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 a 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 influencing her political views.
