Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticised the United Kingdom’s Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, for her recent remarks about Northern Nigeria.
Tribune Online reports that Badenoch, who faced criticism from Vice President Kashim Shettima over her denigrating comments about Nigeria, stated that she identifies as Yoruba and disassociates herself from Northern Nigeria.
Badenoch described Northern Nigeria as a hub for Islamism and Boko Haram. She expressed frustration at being labelled as Nigerian, emphasising that she feels little connection to the country.
Reacting to Badenoch’s comments in a post on X on Friday, Ahmad accused her of being easily manipulated.
He argued that Badenoch’s statements were an attempt to shift blame and create division by portraying Northerners as adversaries of the Yoruba people.
Ahmad pointed out that Badenoch’s Nigerian passport does not specify any ethnicity but only her nationality.
He also criticised Nigerians who supported her remarks, warning that such divisive comments could lead to Nigerians facing wrongful accusations abroad.
He wrote, ”Sometimes we can be so gullible and easy to deceive. This lady, while seeking validation from her masters, attacked and disrespected the country of her ancestors. The whole Nigeria reacted bitterly and called her out.
“Now, to save face, she is trying to frame it as a regional tussle. She labeled the entire Northern Nigeria as a Boko Haram region and northerners as enemies of Yoruba.
“Unfortunately, some Nigerians have already fallen for it as I can see some applauding her, not realizing that an attack on the North, East, or West by a foreigner is an attack on all of Nigeria.
“Now she attacks the North, and you are cheering for her. You won’t understand your mistake until you travel abroad with a Nigerian passport and are identified by the false accusations she made against the North.
“Your passport doesn’t specify if you are a Southerner or I am a Northerner, or if you’re Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa.”
