Femi Fani-Kayode, former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, has issued a harsh response to UK Minister Kemi Badenoch’s comments about her Nigerian heritage.
Fani-Kayode’s condemnation follows
Badenoch’s comments in an interview with the Daily Mail that touched on her Nigerian roots and admiration for the UK.
Badenoch, who was born in Wimbledon but spent her early years in Nigeria, said in the interview that her experience of living in a country where she “never felt safe” had deepened her appreciation for the UK.
She accused Labour of wanting to teach children to be “ashamed” of Britain’s past and called for a new history curriculum to instil “pride in our country.”
Badenoch added that she would “fight and die” for the country and contrasted the stability of the UK with the situation in some African nations, where slavery is still endemic.
“I will always be grateful for being lucky enough to be born here,” Badenoch told the Daily Mail.
“It was very much fate, and I would do anything for this country—I would go to war for this country, I would fight for this country. I would die for this country.
“This is my country. I love it the way it is. I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from.
I want it to get better and better, not just for me, but for that next generation.”
In a short post on X, Fani-Kayode, a prominent Nigerian political figure known for his controversial rants, responded to Badenoch’s statement during the interview, calling her a
“stupid little girl” and a “notoriously self-righteous bitch who barks.”
Fani-Kayode accused her of abandoning her Nigerian heritage, noting that Badenoch is
“worse than Aunty Jemima, the female version of Uncle Tom.”
The slang term “Aunt Jemima” falls within the
“mammy archetype” and refers to a friendly
Black woman perceived as obsequiously servile or acting in, or protective of, the interests of whites.
Meanwhile, the term “Uncle Tom” is used as an epithet for someone excessively subservient, especially when that person perceives his or her lower-class status based on race. It is similarly used to describe people who betray their own group by participating in its oppression, whether willingly or not.
Fani-Kayode, the two-time minister of tourism and aviation, also questioned Badenoch, asking if she had “ever considered staying in the place you ‘ran away from’ and trying to fix it?”
“By all means, try your luck at being elected leader of the British Conservative Party, but leave my country out of your pretty yet stinking mouth,” Fani-Kayode told Badenoch.
Badenoch is competing with Robert Jenrick in the final run-off to succeed Rishi Sunak as the
leader of the Conservatives. The outcome will be decided by the votes of about 140,000 Tory Party members, with the results set to be declared on November 2.
He suggested that she focused on improving Nigeria rather than making critical remarks about it from abroad.
His tweet, further ignited debate on social media about national loyalty, identity, and the responsibility of diaspora Nigerians in advocating for change.
A prominent Nigerian journalist, Oseni Rufai, also joined Fani-Kayode in calling her “Uncle Tom and Aunty Jemima,” describing her views as “wrapped with a ribbon of ambiguity, ambivalence, and absurdities.”
Rufai added that Badenoch is “obviously in a maelstrom of conflicting wavelengths.”
Adedapo Adebajo tweeted, “Kemi Badenoch is a tragedy,” adding that “she breathes to gain white acceptance.”
Adebajo further noted that the extent of Badenoch’s self-hatred as an African was a
shocking discovery to him.
Another user, who goes by the username Orekelewa, said, “I’m going to start ignoring Kemi Badenoch because, at this point, I can’t tell if she’s illiterate or unhinged.”
Adedapo Adebajo tweeted, “Kemi Badenoch is a tragedy,” adding that “she breathes to gain white acceptance.”
Adebajo further noted that the extent of Badenoch’s self-hatred as an African was a
shocking discovery to him.
Peoplesmind
