Nigerian senator and activist Shehu Sani has fired back at British Conservative Party Minister Kemi Badenoch following her controversial comments about no longer identifying as Nigerian.
Speaking recently on the Rosebud Podcast with Gyles Brandreth, Badenoch — the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade — openly distanced herself from her Nigerian roots, stating:
“I’m Nigerian through ancestry… but by identity, I’m not really.”
The 44-year-old minister, born in Wimbledon, London, to Nigerian parents, admitted she had not renewed her Nigerian passport in over 20 years. She also emphasized her connection to the UK, saying:
“Home is where my now family is… The Conservative Party is very much part of my extended family.”
Shehu Sani Responds
In a pointed reaction on social media, Senator Shehu Sani condemned Badenoch’s remarks and suggested she should go as far as changing her name to reflect her self-denial:
“If Kemi Badenoch no longer sees herself as a Nigerian and wants to erase her identity, she should go ahead and change her name to Kimberly or Kim Kardashian.”
The former Kaduna Central senator’s response has since gone viral, sparking a fresh wave of online debate about diaspora identity, cultural detachment, and the politics of self-definition.
Mixed Reactions Online
While some Nigerians have expressed disappointment in Badenoch’s distancing from her roots, others have defended her right to self-identify as she sees fit, noting her long-term residence and public service in the UK.
Still, Shehu Sani’s sarcastic suggestion has resonated with many who see Badenoch’s stance as a rejection of the culture and heritage that shaped her early years.
