The Federal Government has said that the newly-elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has so far refused to identify with Nigeria.
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made this known on a Channels Television programme.
On the programme: “The Morning Brief,” on Wednesday, Dabiri=Erewa disclosed that her office has reached out to Badenoch a few times and received no response.
She said when asked if the Federal Government had identified with her: “It depends on if she identifies the Nigerianess in her.
“We have reached out to her once or twice without any response.
“So we don’t force people to accept to be Nigerians.
“If you appreciate the Nigerianess in you and you want to work with us, we are open to everybody, but we cannot force you to appreciate the Nigerianess in you.
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“You remember the Miss Universe Nigeria in South Africa.
“Until she got into a little problem with South Africa was when she identified with Nigeria.
“And she identified with Nigeria, came to Nigeria and we hosted her.
“As long as that blood is in you, you are a Nigerian.
“So, it depends on Kemi to decide whether she appreciates the Nigerianess in her, whether she wants to work with Nigeria, but we cannot force anybody.”
The Eagle Online recalls that the Conservatives on Saturday elected Badenoch as its new leader, replacing Rishi Sunak, who quit after the party’s disastrous showing in the July general election.
Badenoch, 44, was born in London in 1980, but spent her childhood living in Lagos, Nigeria, and in the United States, where her mother lectured.
She returned to the UK at the age of 16.
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