The Presidency has strongly reacted to comments made by British Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her claim that Nigerian law prevents her from passing citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described Badenoch’s assertion as false and misleading, urging the British Government to “send her home for proper re-education.”
Onanuga, in a post on his official X handle on Monday, said Badenoch misrepresented the Nigerian Constitution during her interview on CNN with Fareed Zakaria, where she claimed it was “virtually impossible” for women to transmit Nigerian citizenship to their children.
“Kemi Badenoch lied. She owes her fatherland some apology. Britain should send our lost daughter home for proper re-education,” Onanuga stated.
He cited Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which clearly provides that a person born outside Nigeria is entitled to Nigerian citizenship if either of the parents is a citizen of Nigeria—regardless of gender.
“Section 25 of our constitution defines who has the right to Nigerian citizenship: every person born outside Nigeria, either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria,” he noted.
Badenoch, who was born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents and lived in Nigeria before returning to the UK at age 16, had told CNN her children could not obtain Nigerian citizenship through her because she is female.
“I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said during the interview.
Onanuga praised UK-based Nigerian lawyer and political activist, Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, for publicly correcting Badenoch’s remarks, describing her response as “enlightening.”
He said it was important that public figures, especially those with Nigerian roots, do not misrepresent facts about the country or its laws.
Badenoch, who is currently serving as the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, is married to a Scottish banker and is a mother of three.
The Presidency’s reaction has since sparked public debate, with many Nigerians online calling on the UK politician to clarify or retract her statement.
