Olukayode Majekodunmi
In an era where public figures wield immense influence across continents, truth must not be sacrificed on the altar of convenience or political positioning. Kemi Badenoch, a prominent British politician of Nigerian descent, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the UK political space. She has, however, not hesitated to comment on her Nigerian heritage — often with a tone of condescension that is as inaccurate as it is unnecessary.
One of the most jarring examples came during her recent appearance on Fareed Zakaria GPS, where she claimed that Nigerian citizenship is not automatically granted to children born abroad to Nigerian parents — using her own children as an example. According to her, they do not qualify for Nigerian citizenship, and this, in her view, reflects badly on the Nigerian system.
That claim is not just false — it is irresponsible. The Constitution is Clear. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 25(1)(c), states without ambiguity:
“Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria shall be a citizen of Nigeria by birth.” There is no caveat. No hidden clause. No consular discretion. If one parent is a Nigerian citizen by birth, the child — regardless of place of birth — is also a citizen by birth. Documentation through a consulate is a routine administrative process, not a requirement for eligibility.
Kemi Badenoch’s statement contradicts not only the Constitution of the country she claims as heritage — it contradicts reality. It either reflects a stunning ignorance of her country’s laws or a calculated distortion to fit a political narrative. Either way, it is deeply misleading.
Misleading a Global Audience
When a politician like Badenoch speaks on a globally respected platform like Fareed Zakaria GPS, she is not merely sharing a personal opinion — she is shaping global perception. Her false claim feeds a harmful and outdated narrative: that African nations are lawless, dysfunctional, and incapable of protecting even the basic rights of their own citizens.
Citizenship Is a Right, Not a Favour
The right of a child to inherit citizenship from their parent is not a bureaucratic luxury — it is a legal guarantee. Nigeria operates under a jus sanguinis framework — citizenship by blood — enshrined in law. To suggest otherwise on international television is not just a factual error; it is a dangerous misrepresentation. Yes, registering a child at a Nigerian mission is encouraged — just as British citizens abroad must register births with the UK High Commission. But the act of registration does not create citizenship — it merely affirms what the law already guarantees.
Accountability and Integrity in Public Discourse
Kemi Badenoch — or rather, Kemi Bade-nough, as she now reveals herself — must understand that public office comes with responsibility, not just rhetoric. It is possible to critique Nigeria without slandering it. It is possible to embrace one’s British citizenship without discrediting the African soil from which one’s name, roots, and identity are drawn.
What she did on Fareed Zakaria GPS was not a moment of candour — it was a moment of misguided condescension, cloaked in the guise of critique. And it must be called out.
It is time for truth to triumph over false narrative. Nigeria’s citizenship laws — especially as they relate to descent — are clear, progressive, and constitutionally guaranteed. What Kemi Bade-nough said on Fareed Zakaria GPS was not only legally incorrect — it was politically opportunistic.
Her comments may win her applause in some British circles, but they do a disservice to the millions of Nigerians who carry dual identities with pride — and who know that Nigeria, like any other nation, deserves to be spoken of with truth, not contempt.
That narrative of dysfunction she carelessly spread is a lie. And Kemi Bade-nough, of all people, should know better.
*Olukayode Majekodunmi (LLM Notre Dame.)
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