Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has issued a blistering rebuttal to UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, warning her to stop “misrepresenting Nigeria for political optics.” This came in response to Badenoch’s recent speech at a Tory economic summit, where she alluded to Nigeria as an example of a country with “institutional corruption, dysfunctional policies, and broken diaspora engagement.”
Dabiri-Erewa begins her remarks by labeling Badenoch’s comments as “intellectually lazy and dangerously misleading.” She asserts that as someone of Nigerian descent occupying a high-profile political seat, Badenoch has a duty to be factual, not performative. “We expect better from someone who shares our heritage but now panders to colonial narratives to score cheap political points,” she said.
Diaspora Engagement: Facts vs Political Grandstanding
Dabiri-Erewa begins by correcting the record on diaspora engagement, emphasizing that Nigeria’s relationship with its diaspora community is “robust, structured, and one of the most dynamic in Africa.” She cited key achievements, including the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, the Diaspora Housing Scheme, and over $21 billion in annual remittances from Nigerians abroad.
She accuses Badenoch of deliberately ignoring these strides to feed a skewed narrative to her conservative base. “We are not begging for validation from Western politicians suffering from selective amnesia,” she said. “Our diaspora is investing in education, healthcare, and fintech — not corruption. That’s the story you conveniently left out.”
Weaponizing Heritage: The Dangers of Political Self-Erasure
Dabiri-Erewa begins this part of her statement by pointing out what she calls the “weaponization of Black heritage” for white appeasement in Western politics. Without mincing words, she suggests that Badenoch is engaging in self-erasure by perpetuating stereotypes that have long been used to marginalize African nations and their citizens.
She underscores the irony that Badenoch, a British-Nigerian, “benefits from Nigerian cultural capital yet maligns the very soil that nurtured her roots.” Dabiri-Erewa calls on Nigerians in the UK to hold Badenoch accountable, urging them to reject leaders who rise by disowning their identity. “Your heritage is not a tool of political convenience,” she warned.
Double Standards in Global Governance and Perception
Dabiri-Erewa begins her critique of Western hypocrisy by highlighting the glaring double standards in global perception. “When Western countries battle corruption, it is seen as a legal issue. But when African countries do the same, it’s labeled systemic failure,” she said. She accuses politicians like Badenoch of perpetuating this bias under the guise of reform.
She insists that while Nigeria is not perfect, its flaws are no different from those in the UK or US. From the Post Office scandal in Britain to lobbying controversies in Parliament, corruption is global. “Why isolate Nigeria as your negative benchmark? Why not include the UK’s own institutional rot?” she queried.
Colonial Mindset or Political Strategy? The Unspoken Agenda
Dabiri-Erewa begins this section by suggesting that Badenoch’s remarks are not accidental, but part of a broader ideological pattern within right-wing UK politics. “There is a concerted effort to demonize the Global South in order to justify restrictive immigration, hardline foreign policies, and donor fatigue,” she explained.
She describes Badenoch’s rhetoric as a calculated dog whistle to Britain’s conservative base, designed to evoke distrust of African immigrants and delegitimize African progress. “You cannot rise by tearing down the bridge behind you,” Dabiri-Erewa warned. “If you can’t speak truth to power in Westminster, don’t speak fiction about Nigeria.”
A Final Word: Facts Over Fiction, Nation Over Narrative
Dabiri-Erewa begins her closing with a resolute call for responsibility among global leaders of African descent. “We can disagree on policy, but not on facts,” she said. “Nigeria is not your political scapegoat.” She encouraged Africans in the diaspora to push back against simplistic portrayals and demand nuanced narratives that honor their country’s complexity.
In a direct address to Badenoch, Dabiri-Erewa offered a bold challenge: “Return to Nigeria. Engage with our youth, our entrepreneurs, our civil society. Then tell the world what you saw — not what they want you to say.” Her statement has since gone viral, sparking global conversations around diaspora loyalty, post-colonial politics, and identity manipulation.
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