The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly criticised United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent claim that Nigerian law does not allow her to confer citizenship on her children because she is a woman.
Dabiri-Erewa, appearing on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme on Friday, described Badenoch’s statement as misleading and entirely untrue.
Reacting to Badenoch’s controversial comment, Dabiri-Erewa pointed out that Section 25(1)(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution explicitly states that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either parent is a Nigerian. She said, “But that is not true. Don’t divulge false information. You go on international media and spin a lie, that is a lie, that is not even true. And I’m sure people have responded.”
Dabiri-Erewa added that while Nigeria values its diaspora citizens, the country would not stay silent when its image is unjustly tarnished. ‘You Can’t Lie About Your Country and Expect Silence’
The NIDCOM boss insisted that public denigration of Nigeria by high-profile individuals must be addressed, noting that many Nigerians in the UK are excelling in public service without attacking their heritage.
“It’s not about me, or the President, or you, it’s about Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa said. “You can’t lie about your country, and then we keep quiet.” According to her, “There are many who are doing very well politically. So ours is to continue to work with every Nigerian in the diaspora, but you can’t force anybody.”
Badenoch who claimed during a recent interview: “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”
Her comment drew widespread criticism, including from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who called it “a display of utter ignorance” and accused her of misleading the British public for political advantage.
