Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has once again launched a scathing attack on Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party, following her recent criticism of Nigeria and its institutions. Fani-Kayode’s remarks come amid growing tensions between the Nigerian-born British politician and her home country.
Badenoch, who was born in Nigeria before moving to the UK, has previously faced backlash for her consistent negative comments about Nigeria. In a recent interview with a British journalist, she accused Nigerian police officers of stealing her brother’s wristwatch and shoes, while defending the conduct of the UK police.
The criticism has not gone unnoticed, with several Nigerian politicians and public figures responding to her claims. Vice President Kashim Shettima, in particular, recently reacted to Badenoch’s remarks, advising her to “remove ‘Kemi’ from her name” if she was not proud of her Nigerian heritage.
However, Fani-Kayode’s response to Badenoch’s latest attack has been particularly harsh. On Thursday, the former aviation minister took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to address the Conservative Party leader’s comments. In his post, Fani-Kayode criticized Badenoch for her hypocrisy, stating that she could not demand police protection in Lagos while simultaneously attacking Nigerian police officers.
“She says she trusts the British police and claims that Nigerian policemen stole her brother’s watch and shoes,” Fani-Kayode wrote, emphasizing Badenoch’s contradictory stance. He went on to accuse her of ignoring the flaws within the British police force, particularly regarding issues of racism and corruption.
Fani-Kayode continued, “But she refuses to acknowledge the fact that the British police are amongst the most institutionally racist and corrupt in the world.” He argued that the British police had a long history of mistreating black people, including Nigerians, and that these issues were often ignored by authorities.
The former minister also referenced the ongoing problem of violence in the UK, particularly crimes involving knives. “That many black people, including Nigerians, have been framed, persecuted, tortured, illegally incarcerated, maliciously prosecuted and killed over the years,” Fani-Kayode noted, adding that thousands of Nigerians had fallen victim to violent crimes in the UK.
Fani-Kayode expressed frustration that the British police had largely ignored these issues, specifically because the majority of the victims were black. “The British police turned a blind eye to all of these simply because most of the victims are black,” he stated, highlighting the deep-rooted problems within the UK’s law enforcement system.
Given her critical stance on Nigerian police, Fani-Kayode questioned why Badenoch would continue to insist on police protection for her mother in Lagos. “Given her views about our policemen, one wonders why she insists on her mother having police protection in Lagos,” he remarked.
The exchange between Fani-Kayode and Badenoch has sparked a renewed debate about the relationship between Nigeria and its diasporan citizens, especially those who hold prominent positions in foreign governments. Badenoch’s comments, along with Fani-Kayode’s response, have ignited discussions about the challenges facing both Nigeria and the UK.
