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Dabiri-Erewa Slams Kemi Badenoch Over ‘False’ Nigeria Claims
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Critics accuse Badenoch of using Nigeria as a political punching bag
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Nigerian officials say repeated efforts to engage her were ignored
The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned United Kingdom Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over her claim that Nigerian law prevents her from passing citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Hard Copy on Friday, Dabiri-Erewa described Badenoch’s comments as “a lie” and “misleading,” citing Section 25(1)(c) of Nigeria’s Constitution which states that a child born outside Nigeria is a citizen if either parent is Nigerian.
“You go on international media and spin a lie… that is not true,” she said, adding that such falsehoods damage the country’s image. Dabiri-Erewa stressed that while Nigeria embraces its diaspora citizens, it would not remain silent when publicly misrepresented.
“You can’t lie about your country and then expect us to keep quiet,” she warned.
Badenoch, elected Conservative Party leader in November 2024, claimed in a recent interview that “it’s virtually impossible to get Nigerian citizenship” and that, as a woman, she couldn’t pass it on to her children. The comment drew criticism from several quarters, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who called her claims “a display of utter ignorance.”
This is not Badenoch’s first controversial statement about Nigeria. In December 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima slammed her for comments seen as denigrating to Northern Nigerians. She had also accused Nigerian police of corruption and described the country as poor and unsafe.
The Nigerian presidency dismissed her remarks as “a cock and bull story,” while ex-Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode called her out for hypocrisy. Dabiri-Erewa revealed that NIDCOM has tried to engage Badenoch multiple times without response.
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