Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, UK, has reignited discussions surrounding identity and ethnicity, stating that she identifies as Yoruba rather than Nigerian.


She explained this stance by expressing a sense of detachment from northern Nigeria, which she referred to as a haven for Islamism and Boko Haram.


“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity [Yoruba],” she said


The Conservative MP further said, “I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram where Islamism is.”


Badenoch has come under increasing criticism from Nigerians, including prominent figures, for her candid remarks about Nigeria’s corruption and security issues in interviews with British media.


Her comments, frequently seen as disparaging, have triggered a strong backlash throughout the country.


Vice President Kashim Shettima, from Borno State in northern Nigeria, publicly criticized her, stating, “She could go ahead and change her name if she does not want any association with the greatest black nation on earth, the nation called Nigeria.”


Despite the criticism, Badenoch has stood firm in her position, emphasizing that her Yoruba heritage is central to her identity.


“Being Yoruba is my true identity, and I refuse to be lumped with northern people of Nigeria, who ‘were our ethnic enemies,’ all in the name of being called a Nigerian.”


Reflecting on her heritage, she shared, “Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors. They protected the crown, and that’s what I see myself as doing.”


“I am here to protect, and I will die protecting this country because I know what’s out there,” she concluded.