Abike Dabiri, the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has accused the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch of being a snub who doesn’t want to identify with Nigeria.
Dabiri made the accusation on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Wednesday.
Giving details on her claims, the Chairman of NiDCOM reviews that her office has reached out to Badenoch twice since she was elected but she has refused to honour the invitation.
Dabiri further stated that they would stop reaching out to Badenoch because she does not want to identify with her Nigerian roots.
She said, “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 Nigerian. 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.”
Making reference to the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina’s saga with South Africans, Dabiri noted that once anyone acknowledges the fact that they are Nigerian and identify with the country, they would definitely work with them.
“You remember the Miss Universe Nigeria in South Africa. Until she got into a little problem with South Africa 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 appreciates the Nigerianess in her, whether she wants to work with Nigeria, but we cannot force anybody,” she stated.
News About Nigeria recalls that Badenoch made history last Saturday as the first black woman to be elected as Conservatives party leader.
