The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has publicly rebuked UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, urging her to stop spreading falsehoods about Nigeria during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy. The confrontation stems from Badenoch’s recent claim that Nigerian law prevents her from passing citizenship to her children due to her gender, a statement Dabiri-Erewa labeled as “misleading” and “entirely untrue,” citing Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants citizenship to children of Nigerian parents abroad. “When you denigrate your country, we’ll reply you. It’s not about me or you; it’s about Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa asserted, defending the nation’s legal framework.
The exchange has ignited a firestorm, with Dabiri-Erewa accusing Badenoch of tarnishing Nigeria’s image for political gain in the UK. She highlighted the achievements of Nigerians abroad and urged Badenoch to retract her statement, which has drawn criticism from figures like Femi Falana, who called it “a display of utter ignorance.”
