Kehinde Fajobi
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Nigeria’s police, recounting an incident where officers allegedly stole her brother’s shoe and watch.
In an interview with The Free Press, Badenoch said her experiences with the Nigerian police were overwhelmingly negative compared to her positive encounters with British law enforcement.
She said, “The police in Nigeria will rob us. When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well… I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
Reflecting on the situation, she added, “It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a licence to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem.”
Badenoch, born Kemi Adegoke, further contrasted the Nigerian police with their British counterparts, sharing her experience in the UK after a burglary.
“When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004… that was 20 years ago,” she said.
The remarks have drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians, who have also revisited her past statements and actions.
Among these is a 2010 campaign message where she sought support from Nigerians while running for UK parliament.
“I need your help,” she had appealed. “I’m running for parliament in the 2010 UK general elections. The race is very tight. Regardless of party allegiance, a Nigerian in parliament winning purely on merit and not because of her relatives or by buying the election will be amazing.”
She also called for unity among Nigerians, saying, “We really need to get out of this mindset where we are fighting one another and try and support each other instead. My generation has suffered enough from the mistakes of the past, and it is time to retell the story.”
Badenoch’s remarks and past affiliations continue to spark debate about her identity and relationship with Nigeria.