Nigerian journalist and publisher Dele Momodu has responded to the controversial comments made by UK lawmaker Kemi Badenoch regarding her difficult time spent in Nigeria.
Badenoch, who is the UK Secretary of State for Business and Energy and a Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden, recently shared that her experience at the Federal Government Girls’ College in Sagamu was traumatic.
Badenoch, who was born in Nigeria before moving to the UK, compared her time at the Nigerian boarding school to being in prison.
She highlighted the harsh living conditions, poor sanitation, lack of water, and manual labor, such as cutting grass with machetes, as contributing factors to her difficult experience.
Reacting to this, Dele Momodu expressed his concerns over Badenoch’s repeated negative remarks about Nigeria, especially considering her personal achievements.
In a tweet posted on his X account, he acknowledged Badenoch’s success but questioned her frequent criticisms of her homeland.
He wrote, “I truly and genuinely love MADAM KEMI for her personal accomplishments but I often shudder, feverishly, at her unfortunate denigration of Nigeria at every opportunity… May God almighty deliver her from whatever might have traumatized her so much while growing up in Nigeria…”
Momodu’s response has sparked a debate online, with some supporting his call for empathy, while others sympathize with Badenoch’s painful memories of her upbringing.
Regardless of differing views, the conversation has shed light on the emotional complexities surrounding one’s past experiences and how they shape their perceptions of their country of origin.
